For the first time in a major tournament, Sweden will be without a representative from its domestic league. Some were unhappy with the omissions of Ostersund's Ken Sema and Hammarby's Jiloan Hamad, but otherwise, there were few surprises in Janne Andersson's well-travelled World Cup squad.
Granted, there is a lack of panache; a dearth of Zlatan Ibrahimovic-esque flourish that has resulted in unpretty but admittedly effective play. The Scandinavians reached Russia despite being drawn in a qualification group with France and the Netherlands, and then pitted against Italy in a play-off for a World Cup spot.
Group stage schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time |
|---|---|---|
| June 18 | South Korea | 8:00 a.m. ET |
| June 23 | Germany | 2:00 p.m. ET |
| June 27 | Mexico | 10:00 a.m. ET |
Projected starting XI
There isn't much of a debate over what the starting XI will be. There could be movement in midfield if Albin Ekdal suffers yet another injury, and Emil Krafth has been trialled a few times at right-back.
Werder Bremen's Ludwig Augustinsson is an intelligent reader of the game, hence his preference over Swansea City's attack-minded Martin Olsson. Sweden's left-back can sometimes be exposed on the break when Emil Forsberg has committed to an attack.
Related: Full squad lists for each nation
Key player: Emil Forsberg
In his past two seasons for RB Leipzig, Forsberg has supplied 21 assists and drawn admiring glances from some prestigious clubs in Europe. However, for many, he will still compete at the World Cup as an unknown quantity. Don't expect him to muck in with much defending in Russia as he repeatedly angles runs between gaps in the opposition backline.
The technically gifted Forsberg and Marcus Berg are the best bets for goals in this Swedish lineup.
Breakout star: Victor Lindelof
Lindelof cost Manchester United €35 million to nab him from Benfica last summer, but that wasn't followed by regular outings in Jose Mourinho's defence. He made just 13 league starts in his debut season in English football, but will be given an extended opportunity to showcase his composure in possession and expansive passing alongside Andreas Granqvist. This is Lindelof's first real chance to display his obvious talents on the world stage.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)
