International Preview: Sweden vs Scotland
With 2012 UEFA European Football Championship ties against Lithuania and Liechtenstein next month, this week’s friendly against Sweden is Craig Levein’s last chance to assess his players before the Scotland coach’s first competitive matches in charge. However, this week’s opposition will provide a stern test for the former Dundee United manager’s players.
Levein has already seen five players pull out of his squad, while he was unable to call on regular number one goalkeeper Craig Gordon and defender Gary Caldwell due to injury. The players who were named in the squad but who have had to withdraw are Lee McCulloch (viral infection), Alan Hutton (groin injury), Andy Webster (hamstring), Graham Dorrans (groin injury) and David Marshall (elbow injury). Scott Brown is also doubtful after sustaining a foot injury. Defender Garry Kenneth and midfielder Scott Robertson, both of Dundee United and Everton goalkeeper Iain Turner have been drafted in as replacements, while the rest of the squad features experienced Scotland campaigners.
While not world-beaters, Scotland have several players within their ranks who are capable of damaging stern opposition. Perhaps the country’s most important player is Birmingham City’s James McFadden. One of those rare men who is ordinary for his club but exceptional for his country, McFadden has become something of a talisman for Scotland in recent years after a sensational 35-yard winner against France in a Euro 2008 qualifying match and a mazy run leading to a goal against Macedonia in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying game. His versatility – he can play as a forward, attacking midfielder or winger – means that he will be certain of a place in Levein’s starting 11 and will carry the country’s hopes during the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.
Also capable of delivering a hammer blow to the opposition is Middlesbrough striker Kris Boyd. Though he was criticized many times during his time with Scottish Premier League club Rangers for his poor work rate, the forward has worked hard to introduce movement to his game and was part of a lethal striking partnership with Scotland team-mate Kenny Miller over the last two seasons. But it is in front of goal where Boyd provides the biggest threat. His goalscoring record is outstanding and left Rangers as the SPL’s all-time leading goalscorer after being the league’s top scorer four years in a row. As a traditional ‘poacher’, he can almost always be relied upon to grab a crucial goal at a vital time and rarely misses when he has the ball inside the penalty area.
Sweden’s danger man is undoubtedly Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Barcelona striker has a wealth of experience, having featured 62 times for his country and has scored 22 international goals. But it is at club level where Ibra forged his reputation after a stellar career which has seen him win league titles in Holland (with Ajax), Italy (with Inter Milan) and Spain, along with a FIFA Club World Cup with Barca and several other national cups with his various clubs. Like Boyd, he has been criticised for appearing lazy and disinterested on the pitch but his scoring record tells a different tale – he has netted 176 times in 294 games throughout his career. He is also an effective target man, capable of holding the ball up for other players to find space, proven by his ten assists in 41 games for Barca last season.
However, Levein has been handed a boost after Ibra’s club manager revealed that the player wasn’t fully match-fit. Pep Guardiola did not play the Swede from the start of Barca’s 3-0 victory over Chinese champions Beijing Guoan during a tour of Asia. Guardiola said that: "Ibrahimovic has only got half a game in him at the moment. I had (Lionel) Messi start and Ibrahimovic as the substitute."
If Ibrahimovic is fit, Sweden would appear favourites for the match. But with the competitive nature Levein has installed in his players, it could be Scotland who emerge as victors in Stockholm.
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