|
 |   |
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
TEAM PROFILE
The surprising recovery of Henrik Larsson has boosted Sweden on the eve of the finals. The free-scoring Celtic striker suffered a horrific leg injury last year and looked certain to miss the tournament. But after securing some first-team action in Celtic's last game of the season, he may be able to fire the Swedes towards a surprisingly successful campaign. However, Sweden still has its injury worries. Pontus Kamark will miss the tournament, as will Stefan Schwarz, around whom the side's midfield revolves. He is out with a snapped achilles tendon. Like several other teams who eventually qualified, Sweden began its campaign badly, going a goal down at home to England. Yet it proved to be the only time it conceded a goal in the entire competition. Coaches Tommy Soderberg and Lars Lagerback will hope their defense, marshaled by Coventry City goalkeeper Magnus Hedman, who is also recovering from injury, does enough to allow his side to grab enough points on the counter-attack to get past the first phase. Given the injuries affecting Soderberg's team, this has to be open to doubt. Par Zetterberg, the Anderlecht midfield general, has again restated his reluctance to take part in the Swedish set-up, leaving the side short on creativity in the middle of the park None of this augurs well for Sweden, which won its qualifying group at a canter but which lacks sufficient sparkle to augment qualities of industry and organization. No Swedish side is easy to beat, but first-round elimination looks a distinct possibility unless Soderberg can unearth sufficient talent to drive his team onwards. CNNSI.com's Gabriele Marcotti: If this tournament had been held nine months ago, you might have liked Sweden's chances to make the semifinals. Instead, injuries to Larsson and Schwarz have crippled the team, while guys like Daniel Andersson, Niclas Alexandersson and Joachim Bjorklund have struggled after beginning the season brightly. Larsson is back, though nobody knows if he's going to be any good, and the rest of the side is saddled with similar question marks.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sweden
