Sweden vs Slovakia Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Both Sweden and Slovakia are looking to push for promotion this season after three victories and a draw in their opening four games of the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League campaign.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 16th November, 2024: UK – 7:45pm / US ET – 2:45pm / US PT – 11:45am
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – FOX Sports streaming platforms
Sweden Preview: Sweden’s new generation
Coached by former Malmo and Blackburn Rovers coach Jon Dahl Tomasson, Sweden are expected to play an intense and exciting style of football with an impressive and youthful, more dynamic generation of players coming through the ranks.
‘The Blue and Yellow’ come into this one on the back of an impressive 3-0 hammering of Estonia in Tallinn in their most recent outing last month thanks to goals from Viktor Gyokeres and a brace by Sebastian Nanasi.
Slovakia Preview: Slick Slovakians
Former Napoli assistant coach Francesco Calzona is at the helm of the Slovakian national team. Nicknamed ‘the Falcons’, the Slovakians play an entertaining and fluent style of football with Calzona at the helm.
They come into this one on he back of an impressive 3-1 defeat of Azerbaijan in Baku last month to keep their promotion hopes alive. It was 1-1 until the 75th minute before goals from Lukas Haraslin and David Duris gave them the three points.
Sweden Team News: A few absentees
Sweden are dealing with several injury issues such as Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen, Newcastle United right-back Emil Krafth and Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Hugo Larsson.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Johansson; Douglas, Hien, Gudmundsson; Karlstrom, Ayari, Saletros, Nanasi, Sema; Gyokeres, Kulusevski
UNAVAILABLE: Olsen (Injured), Smith (Injured), Krafth (Injured), Larsson (Injured), Nilsson (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
Slovakia Team News: No Dubravka
Slovakia are only missing one injury concern for this week’s clash with Sweden as Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dubravka is unavailable as he has been throughout the season.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Rodak; Pekarik, Satka, Skriniar, Hancko; Duda, Lobotka, Benes; Suslov, Strelec, Haraslin
UNAVAILABLE: Dubravka (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
Sweden vs Slovakia Prediction
Sweden and Slovakia have both been fluent in their attacking play during this UEFA Nations League campaign. The Swedes have an abundance of talent to the point where in-form winger Anthony Elanga cannot even get into their squad. Slovakia, on the other hand, are more system-based with Calzona’s philosophy more important than the personnel. That said, with home advantage, it makes sense to side with Sweden for this one.
Sweden vs Slovakia Tip: Sweden to win & both teams to score
