Sweden are under pressure as they travel to Kaliningrad to face Russia

Sweden are under pressure as they travel to Kaliningrad to face Russia

Russia vs Sweden – Thursday, October 11, 20:45 BST/21:45 CEST/22:45 MSK – Kaliningrad Stadium, Russia

Russia vs Sweden will take place at the Kaliningrad Stadium in Kaliningrad (Photo by Mladen ANTONOV / AFP)

Russia vs Sweden will take place at the Kaliningrad Stadium in Kaliningrad (Photo by Mladen ANTONOV / AFP)

Stanislav Cherchesov’s Russia is already a new beast from the one that took the World Cup by storm as they head into a crucial home doubleheader in the inaugural UEFA Nations League. Legendary goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev has retired from international football, Aleksandr Golovin is no longer based in Moscow, while two former stalwarts are mired in serious controversy. Whatever the drama around Pavel Mamaev and Aleksandr Kokorin’s arrest for assault this week, neither were involved in the squad, although with both returning from injury to hit reasonable form it is at least a question that could have been raised.

Artem Dzyuba has simply continued with his sparkling form that exploded during this summer’s tournament. His Zenit St. Petersburg have shot to the top of the table, inspired in no small part by his goals. With Akinfeev permanently focussing on his club career, the captaincy looks more solidly settled in the hulking frontman’s grip. His finish away to Turkey in the first Nations League fixture back in September set up a controlling start to the three-team group – with two wins this break, Russia will be one of the first countries to qualify for the playoff tournament next summer.

It is a sign of strength in the new-look Russian squad that the only player with 30 caps or more – Alan Dzagoev – will hardly be missed if he is rested as expected. His creativity could well be called upon at some stage, but with Golovin, the slightly misfiring but majestically gifted Miranchuk twins and flying winger Denis Cheryshev, there is no shortage of invention. The choice of staging the match outside the usual double axis of Moscow and St. Petersburg might impact on the initial atmosphere. Once Dzyuba’s men get the bit between their teeth, however, there will be quite a task on for Sweden to emerge unscathed.

The Swedes are slightly unfairly tainted by their record of recent losses. Reaching the World Cup quarter-final was an excellent achievement and to fall to an exuberant England was no shame. Losing their opening Nations League fixture at home to Turkey was a major blow, but was looking very different with just 15 minutes to go at 2-1 up. The stellar performance in running then-reigning World Champions Germany so close in Sochi in the group stages has gone rather underappreciated in light of the subsequent results.

Unlike Russia, and even taking the retirement of Zlatan Ibrahimovic this year, Sweden have eight players with at least 30 caps. Sebastian Larsson and Andreas Granqvist have both returned to their homeland for a final fling before they hang up their boots, and both are top of their respective leagues with AIK Stockholm and Helsingborg. Granqvist, though, is only playing second-tier football with his boyhood club, so whether he will be able to adjust to the inevitable higher pace is questionable.

The onus is entirely on the visitors to get a result in this match. Lose, and they have next to no chance of gaining promotion to League A and more importantly the playoffs that grant a real chance of making it through to Euro 2020. Head to head records are the first deciding factor in situations with teams level on points in the group stages, so a Russia win would definitively end what hopes Sweden may have harboured of making it through. In the long term, there are arguments to be made for welcoming relegation to a lower league, as in theory it will give a more comfortable route to qualifying for the next major tournament the Nations League applies to. For now, however, the pressure is on.

Russia vs Sweden – Players to Watch

Aleksandr Golovin #15 – Russia (AS Monaco)

Russia’s headline transfer of the summer was undoubtedly former CSKA Moscow youth product Aleksandr Golovin moving to Monaco. Unfortunately, before the midfielder had played a minute for the Russian oligarch-owned principality club, he picked up a foot injury that delayed his debut till a few weeks ago, so assessing his progress is difficult. THis will be a real test for his fitness and form, as Sweden proved their stubborness during the World Cup. Golovin’s temperament, decision-making and passing range will be key to unlocking the Scandinavians

Aleksandr Golovin will be crucial for Russia against Sweden (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Aleksandr Golovin will be crucial for Russia against Sweden (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Viktor Claesson #17 – Sweden (Krasnodar)

The Swede has picked up the mantle of key attacking threat for high-flying Krasnodar in the Russian Premier League in the absence of former talisman Fedor Smolov, checking in with three goals in his last four club matches. His powerful runs into the box will be a key area that Russia’s midfield will have to keep a close eye on, otherwise Sweden will be able to outnumber their opposition defenders. His accuracy from open play with both his passing and shooting make him a permanent risk.

Viktor Claesson will be an important player for Sweden (ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images)

Viktor Claesson will be an important player for Sweden (ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images)

Russia vs Sweden – Match Stats

  • Russia have lost just one of their last seven matches inside 90 minutes, beating Spain but losing to Croatia on penalties
  • They have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last six matches
  • Russia have never lost at home to Sweden in three home encounters, winning the last two without conceding
  • Sweden have lost their last three matches – including their Nations League opener in September at home to Turkey
  • Discounting the World Cup this summer, Sweden’s only victory in their last seven away matches came against Belarus over a year ago
  • Former Krasnodar teammates Viktor Claesson, national team captain Andreas Granqvist and Russia’s Yuriy Gazinskiy will face each other on opposing sides.

Futbolgrad Network Prediction: Russia vs Sweden – 2-0

Russia vs Sweden – Possible Lineups

Russia

Formation: 3-5-1-1

Lunev – Semenev, Dzhikia, Kudryashev – Fernandes, Zobnin, Gazinskiy, Golovin, Nabiullin – Ionov – Dzyuba

Manager: Stanislav Cherchesov

Sweden

Formation: 4-4-2

Olsen – Lustig, Lindelof, Granqvist, Olsen – Larsson, Ekdal, Durmaz, Claesson – Berg, Thelin

Manager: Janne Andersson


Andrew Flint is an English freelance football writer living in Tyumen, Western Siberia, with his wife and two daughters. He has featured on These Football Times, Russian Football News, Four Four Two and Sovetski Sport, mostly focusing on full-length articles about derbies, youth development and the game in Russia. Due to his love for FC Tyumen, he is particularly interested in lower league Russian football and is looking to establish himself in time for the 2018 World Cup. Follow Andrew on Twitter @AndrewMijFlint.

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