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Estonia national football team
Euro Champ Qualifying | Group Stage
Sep 9, 2023 at 5pm UK
A. Le Coq Arena
Sweden national football team

Estonia
0 - 5
Sweden


Mets (14')
FT(HT: 0-3)
Gyokeres (18'), Kulusevski (24'), Isak (39'), Quaison (75'), Claesson (90+2')
Hien (21')

Preview: Estonia vs. Sweden - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Euro Champ Qualifying clash between Estonia and Sweden, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Sweden aim to turbocharge their pursuit of a place at Euro 2024 this weekend, when they resume their qualifying campaign in Estonia on Saturday.

Languishing third in Group F following two defeats from three, the Swedes are only two points above their hosts as they enter a double-header also featuring a crucial clash with Austria.


Match preview

Sweden's Viktor Gyokeres celebrates scoring their third goal with Mattias Svanberg on March 27, 2023© Reuters

Although they emphatically took care of business against Azerbaijan with a 5-0 win in March, Sweden's route to next year's European Championship has not gone smoothly so far.

After missing out on Qatar 2022, the Blagult suffered a humbling home defeat to Belgium at the start of the Euro qualifiers, and June's 2-0 loss at the hands of Group F leaders Austria served to put them further behind the eight-ball.

Three months on, Janne Andersson's side will be seeking a fresh start as they try to close down a four-point gap to the early leaders, with only the top two finishers ultimately guaranteed a ticket to Germany.

The pressure is mounting on the Swedes' experienced coach, as they are in danger of missing out on Europe's top international tournament for the first time since Euro 1996 - a second chance of qualifying via the playoffs was closed by a dismal display in the most recent UEFA Nations League.

Continuing a clear decline in fortunes for the 2018 World Cup quarter-finalists, Sweden were relegated to the third tier after picking up just four points from six games in their League B campaign.

Now, a rescue act is required to pull them out of qualifying trouble, and ahead of next week's potentially pivotal contest with Austria in Stockholm they must surely take maximum points home from Estonia.

Belgium's Mike Tresor Ndayishimiye in action with Estonia's Mattias Kait on June 20, 2023© Reuters

Having picked up only one point from their first two matches in Group F, Estonia were always unlikely to increase their tally last time out, when they hosted Belgium.

The Red Devils left Tallinn with three goals and three points, leaving Thomas Haberli's men second-bottom of the group - only avoiding the basement by virtue of a superior goal difference to fellow outsiders Azerbaijan.

It could have all been so different, as Estonia seemed set for a famous victory in Linz on matchday one, only for Austria to score two late goals and snatch victory - the Sinisargid also led Azerbaijan until the 62nd minute of a 1-1 draw.

Nonetheless, there are signs of some progress for the little Baltic nation, who have lost just three of their last 12 matches across all competitions, picking up five wins in the process.

Those rare successes came against the likes of Malta and San Marino, though, and keeping a talented Swedish side at bay for 90 minutes will prove a far tougher task.

Estonia Euro Champ Qualifying form:


Estonia form (all competitions):


Sweden Euro Champ Qualifying form:


Sweden form (all competitions):



Team News

Sweden coach Janne Andersson on March 29, 2022© Reuters

While star names such as Emil Forsberg, Dejan Kulusevski and Alexander Isak are all fit and ready to serve, Janne Andersson's hopes of leading Sweden to two victories this month have been hit by injury withdrawals from Ludwig Augustinsson, Kristoffer Olsson and Burnley's Hjalmar Ekdal.

In Augustinsson's absence, Malmo's Martin Olsson was called up again to fill in at left-back, sidelining younger hopefuls such as Gabriel Gudmundsson and Young Boys defender Noah Persson. Throughout 2023, 35-year-old Olsson has made just five starts in the Allsvenskan, completing 90 minutes only once: when he netted a stoppage-time equaliser against IFK Goteburg last week.

After a failed dalliance with a bolder 4-3-3 formation, Andersson has more recently reverted to a stock Swedish 4-4-2, with Premier League pair Isak and Kulusevski possibly starting up front - the latter would shift to the right wing if Viktor Gyokeres is selected too.

Meanwhile, continuing a proud international career into his 40th year, Estonia captain Konstantin Vassiljev stands ready to make his 152nd appearance for the hosts this weekend.

The 39-year-old midfielder may have to make do with a substitute role, however, as Martin Miller and Shamrock Rovers star Markus Poom have been preferred by Thomas Haberli of late.

Having scored four goals in his last eight national team appearances, Rauno Sappinen will now miss out due to a serious knee injury, leaving either Erik Sorga or Hong Kong-based Henri Anier to lead the line in his keenly felt absence.

Estonia possible starting lineup:
Hein; Kuusk, Tamm, Mets; Tunjov, Poom, Kait, Miller, Kallaste; Ojamaa, Anier

Sweden possible starting lineup:
Olsen; Holm, Lindelof, Hien, Olsson; Kulusevski, Cajuste, Svanberg, Forsberg; Isak, Gyokeres


SM words green background

We say: Estonia 0-3 Sweden

Sweden have won 16 and drawn one versus Estonia in the past, and despite a sluggish start to their Group F campaign they can now make the most of their firepower in Tallinn. Doubts remain over the Blagult's tactical set-up and selections under Janne Andersson, but they have more than enough nous to see off their hosts.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Away Win:data


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Game History

How you voted: Estonia vs Sweden

Estonia
10.1%
Draw
7.2%
Sweden
82.6%
69
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain870121
Q Scotland flag Scotland852117
3 Norway Norway832311
4 Georgia Georgia82248
5 Cyprus Cyprus80080

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France871022
Q Netherlands Netherlands860218
3 Greece Greece841313
4 Ireland Rep. Ireland82066
5 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar80080

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England862020
Q Italy Italy842214
3 Ukraine Ukraine842214
4 Macedonia N. Macedonia82248
5 Malta flag Malta80080

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Turkey Turkey852117
Q Croatia Croatia851216
3 Wales flag Wales833212
4 Armenia Armenia82248
5 Latvia Latvia81073

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Albania national flag Albania843115
Q Czech Republic Czech Republic843115
3 Poland Poland832311
4 Republic of Moldova Moldova824210
5 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands80262

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Belgium Belgium862020
Q Austria Austria861119
3 Sweden Sweden831410
4 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan82157
5 Estonia Estonia80171

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Hungary Hungary853018
Q Serbia Serbia842214
3 Montenegro Montenegro832311
4 Lithuania Lithuania81346
5 Bulgaria Bulgaria80444

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Denmark Denmark1071222
Q Slovenia Slovenia1071222
3 Finland Finland1060418
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan1060418
5 Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland103079
6 San Marino flag San Marino1000100

Group I

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania1064022
Q Switzerland Switzerland1045117
3 Israel Israel1043315
4 Belarus Belarus1033412
5 Kosovo flag Kosovo1025311
6 Andorra flag Andorra100282

Group J

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal10100030
Q Slovakia Slovakia1071222
3 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg1052317
4 Iceland Iceland1031610
5 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina103079
6 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein1000100


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