Sweden Announces Squad for June Friendly Matches Against Hungary and Algeria
Sweden's national football team announces their squad for upcoming friendlies, facing challenges with several key absentees.
Key Points
- • Sweden's upcoming friendlies are against Hungary and Algeria in June.
- • Captain Victor Nilsson Lindelöf is absent due to family reasons.
- • Gustaf Nilsson and other notable players are missing due to injury or personal issues.
- • John Mellberg has been promoted to the senior national team for these matches.
The Swedish men's national football team is gearing up for two friendly matches this June, set to face Hungary on June 6 and Algeria on June 10. Head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson has confirmed five starting players for the match against Hungary, including Isak Hien, Hugo Larsson, Robin Olsen, Emil Holm, and Anthony Elanga. However, the team will be missing captain Victor Nilsson Lindelöf, who is unavailable due to his wife’s pregnancy, emphasizing that family commitments take precedence over football, as highlighted by Tomasson.
In addition to Lindelöf's absence, Gustaf Nilsson has withdrawn from the squad with a minor injury, further depleting an already thin roster that will also be missing notable players like Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres. Elanga's participation is limited as he will only play in the match against Hungary for personal reasons and will not return for the later fixture against Algeria.
Notably, 18-year-old John Mellberg has been promoted to the senior team after initially being set to join the U21 squad, showcasing Tomasson's commitment to nurturing young talent within the national setup.
On the club front, Alexander Isak remained with Newcastle United following their qualification for the Champions League, and goalkeeper Robin Olsen is set to leave Aston Villa at the season's end with speculation pointing toward a return to Malmö FF. Additionally, Benjamin Nygren, Nordsjælland’s top scorer, is expected to depart as his contract nears expiration, hoping to join a club that participates in major European competitions.
The current squad faces challenges, particularly with star players missing, and the performance against Hungary will signal the team’s readiness as they move forward in their international engagements. As they prepare for these matches, the focus remains on building a competitive team amid these absences and leveraging opportunities to integrate younger players into the setup.