Preview: Sweden vs Algeria – prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Saturday’s international friendlies between Sweden and Algeria, including predictions, team news and possible line-ups.
Sweden and Algeria go into Saturday’s practice match at Eleda Stadion in Malmö hoping to end the calendar year with a morale-boosting victory.
Jan Anderssons men won 2-1 over World Cup-bound Mexico in midweek, while their visitors could only draw 1-1 with Mali.
Match preview
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Neither Sweden nor Mexico fielded their most formidable lineups for their midweek friendly, with the latter preparing for their upcoming World Cup assignments, and Andersson’s side took advantage of a narrow triumph to damage Mexico’s momentum ahead of Qatar 2022.
Marcus Rohden and Matthias Svanberg hit either side of an equalizer from Alexis Vega to end Sweden’s five-match winless run, with the Scandinavian nation entering the end-of-year friendlies following relegation to League C in the UEFA Nations League.
Sweden will not be the only Nordic nation watching the World Cup from home this year – Finland and Norway also failed to qualify while Denmark secured progression – marking a real fall from grace after their quarter-final appearance in Russia four years ago.
Attention now turns to a far from straightforward Euro 2024 qualifying campaign as the Blues prepare to face Belgium, Austria, Estonia and Azerbaijan in their section, and defensive frailties have not been their friend recently.
Vega’s consolation for Mexico actually stretched Sweden’s clean sheet to six games in all competitions, and they have failed to win any of their last three games on home soil, with Norway, Serbia and Slovenia all coming away from Stockholm with at least a point in the Nations League.
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Friendlies have been Algeria’s bread and butter in recent months, with the African powerhouses beating Iran, Guinea and Nigeria in exhibition matches since June, but they were held to a draw by Mali in a lopsided draw on Wednesday.
Riyad Mahrez slotted home a penalty at half-time ahead of the RB Leipzig midfielder Massadio Haidara replied for Mali on the 58th minute, ending Algeria’s hot streak of five consecutive victories in all competitions.
Djamel Belmadis men were memorably the victims of the last gasp Karl Toko Ekambi goal against Cameroon in their World Cup qualifier in March, which condemned them to a second consecutive spell without a World Cup, but their schedule for the new year is packed.
The Fennec Foxes will lock horns with Libya, Ethiopia and Mozambique in the African Nations Championship in January before resuming qualification for the next Africa Cup of Nations, and Algeria have impressively won nine of their last 10 away games ahead of the long trip to Stockholm.
Sweden have a record of three wins and a draw from four previous meetings with Algeria – all of which have been friendlies – but not since 1990 have the two nations clashed, where former Arsenal and Sunderland man Stephen Schwarz drew 1-1.
Sweden’s international friendlies:
Sweden form (all competitions):
Algeria international friendlies:
Algeria form (all competitions):
Team news
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Sweden had no new injury problems in their last win against Mexico, except for the goalkeeper Andreas Linde pulled out of the squad before that game due to a minor muscle problem.
Andersson left senior international debuts to Spezia’s defenders Emil Holm and BK Hacken’s midfielder Samuel Gustafson in the middle of the week, but the host manager could now choose to call on his well-rested big-hitters in reserve.
Such as Emil Forsberg, Robin Quaison, Viktor Claesson and Kristoffer Olsson should all be considered for starters, while the 62-cap Robin Olsen is ready to be replaced Kristoffer Nordfeldt in goal.
Similarly, Algeria also came through their stalemate with Mali unscathed, where the midfield duo Ismael Bennacer and Nabil Bentaleb were both brought in as substitutes at half-time.
The experienced pair should now be in line to replace Ramiz Zerrouki and Adem Zorgane in the engine room, while Islam Slimani made his 91st international appearance on Wednesday.
The Brest striker needs just 10 more caps to become Algeria’s all-time leading prolific creator, and he could well come in from the kick-off as Karim Aribi falls to the bench.
Left back Ramy Bensebaini should also be back from COVID-19 here, while the goalkeeper Anthony Mandrea started against Mali but is now reportedly set to return to club side Caen.
Sweden’s possible starting line-up:
Olsen; Holm, Lindelof, Hien, Augustinsson; Elanga, Svanberg, Olsson, Forsberg; Quaison, Gyokeres
Algeria’s possible starting line-up:
M’Bolhi; Benayada, Mandi, Tougai, Bensebaini; Bennacer, Boudaoui, Bentaleb; Mahrez, Slimani, Benrahma
We say: Sweden 1-2 Algeria
Bringing the big hitters back to the starting line-up should bode well for an Algerian team that has a knack for winning away from home, but Sweden has its own experienced internationals waiting in the wings.
Andersson’s side will have the vociferous home support behind them, but a touch of additional quality in midfield and attack should help get Algeria over the line for their first ever victory over the blue and yellows.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match, click here.
Top tip
Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com tip over 1.5 goals in this match. click here to find out what else they predict for this game and for more of their proven football tips.Above 1.5:data