Sports Mole previews Wednesday’s friendly clash between Denmark and Sweden, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
During their first of two 100% Scandinavian friendly matches, on the way to Euro 2024 Denmark take charge Sweden at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen on Wednesday evening.
While Kasper HjulmandAs the Spanish team puts the finishing touches to their preparations for the European Championship, their visitors will not be aiming for continental glory this summer.
Match Preview
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Despite being pushed to the brink by an ever-improving Slovenian side in Group H of Euro 2024 qualifying, Denmark leapfrogged their counterparts into the top spot thanks to a superior head-to-head record, after equaling the Slovenes’ total of 22. points in 10 matches.
Hjulmand’s men actually finished with an inferior goal difference to their opponents, but tiebreakers soon became meaningless as Denmark and Slovenia were drawn into the same section of the Euros, housed in Group C alongside Serbia and 2021 finalists England.
The Danes have an issue to sort out with the latter in particular, having suffered a heartbreaking extra-time defeat to England in the Euro 2020 semi-finals, but friendly clashes with fellow Nordics Sweden and Norway ( June 8), have priority before their little trip to Germany.
Qualification was already assured by the time the 1992 European champions lost 2-0 to Northern Ireland in their last preliminary encounter, but their defensive record in 2024 is so far unblemished, drawing 0-0 against Switzerland and sinking the Faroe Islands 2. -0 in the March doubleheader.
Speaking of remarkable rearguard exploits, it’s been almost exactly seven years since Denmark last conceded a goal in a home friendly – keeping an incredible 11 clean sheets on the bounce since a 1-1 draw against Germany in June 2017 – while their last exhibition defeat on familiar ground came in 2015 in France.
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Such statistics make very unpleasant reading for a Swedish team who flattered to deceive in their Euro 2024 qualifying section, culminating with a total of just 10 points from 24 on offer as they saw off Austria and Belgium storm the automatic qualifying spots.
The Blue and Yellow also had no safety net to fall back on for the Nations League qualifiers, meaning they will not be present at the European Championships for the first time since 1996 this summer, and a new face was tasked with restoring order.
Sweden’s dismal qualifying campaign led to departure of long-serving boss Janne Andersson and the appointment of former Blackburn Rovers head coach Jon Dahl Tomassonthe first non-Swede to take charge of the Blue and Yellow men’s team and who will look to score a surprise scalp over his country of birth this Wednesday.
Tomasson received a baptism of fire in his first assignment, a 5-2 win over Portugal on March 21, but he did not have to wait much longer for his first triumph, masterminding a 1-0 win over Portugal. Albania thanks to Gustave NilssonIt’s the winner.
A 108th meeting with familiar opponents, Denmark, now awaits the Blue and Yellow, who maintain a slight head-to-head advantage with 46 wins against 41 for the Red and White, even if their last friendly meeting in November 2020 was ended 2-0 to the Euro 2020 semi-finalists.
Friendly form of Denmark:
Denmark form (all competitions):
Friendly form of Sweden:
Sweden form (all competitions):
Team News
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After rebuilding his Premier League career following his painful collapse at Euro 2020, the Manchester United player Christian Eriksen will be part of his country’s squad at Euro 2024 and is by far the team’s most prolific player, scoring 40 goals for his country.
Colleague of the Red Devils Rasmus Hojlund will definitely chase down his teammate in this regard in the years to come, and the only player not selected in Denmark’s latest 26-man squad – goalkeeper Mads Hermansen – also practices his trade in England with Leicester City.
However, the Celtic midfield maestro Matt O’Riley was controversially omitted from Hjulmand’s selection, as was Philippe Invoicing, Jesper Lindstrom And Martin Braithwaitethe latter of whom started all of the Rouge et Blanc’s matches at Euro 2020, scoring a goal in their round of 16 tie against Wales.
Likewise, Sweden also does not have a famous center forward within Sporting Lisbon. Viktor Gyokereswho caught the eye of Arsenal and Chelsea with an incredible debut season in Portugal but has now been out for several weeks due to knee surgery.
Luckily for Newcastle United’s Tomasson Alexander Isak is a very capable alternative, and the 24-year-old could receive support from two of his Premier League colleagues at Nottingham Forest. Anthony Elanga and Tottenham Hotspur Dejan Kulusevski.
Former Arsenal starlet Kristoffer Olsson is of course absent after being hospitalized earlier this year due to blood clots on the brain, while the defensive duo Linus Wahlqvist And Eric Smith also withdrew from the team.
Denmark possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Andersen, Kjaer, Christensen; Maehle, Hojbjerg, Eriksen, Kristiansen; Skov Olsen, Hojlund, Damsgaard
Possible starting XI for Sweden:
Olsen; Krafth, Starfelt, Lindelof, Augustinsson; Cajuste, Olsson; Kulusevski, Forsberg, Elanga; Isak
We say: Denmark 2-1 Sweden
Sweden’s poor showing in Euro 2024 qualifying speaks volumes about the individual quality of Tomasson’s troops – particularly in the final third – and the visitors may be playing with the handbrake against their near neighbours.
So Denmark’s remarkable clean streak in home friendlies could cease to exist by the end of the game on Wednesday, but Hjulmand’s men will have to fight back to win.
For data analysis of most likely outcomes, scores and more for this match, please click here.
