Playoff, return match in Milan 13/11.
It looks like a tactically marked, cautious affair between home-strong Sweden and exalted Italy. The Italians want to play offensive, but did not make it work at the end of the group game and catch enough Stockholm with respect. X to 3.2?
It speaks for Sweden
In the group game Sweden was 4-1-0 (18-2) at home. Group winners beat France with 2-1 (though very lucky).
After Zlatan’s goodbye after EM-2016, the Swedes are star-low, but a teamwork and hard-working team.
Focusing on organization and defensive solidity, but not without offensive capabilities – especially Leipzig’s rather excellent left-wing man Forsberg.
Italy finally scored in the group game: 0-3 losses in Spain, 1-0 home against crisis-raided Israel, 1-1 home against Macedonia and 1-0 victory in Albania.
Azzurri coach Ventura wants to play 4-2-4 but risk of midfield talks. Caution (eg 3-5-2) and nervous in recent matches, but also few goals.
Left back The Sciglio who started the qualification as Azzurri starter has been gone since March; reserve in Juve after the change of summer from Milan.
Backups Darmian and Zappacosta do not play much in Man Utd and Chelsea (Zappacosta started in the weekend’s meeting).
Italian defender Chiellini got 2 warnings in the group game and it triggers quarantine? However, I have not seen a Chiellini quarantine mentioned. UPDATE: He has NOT quarantined – quarantined quarantine earlier in qualification and is standing with one yellow card.
It speaks for Italy
Gli Azzurri was 4-0-1 (11-6) away from the team and lost only to Spain. In addition, there is a training championship in Holland in March.
In relation to the last match, attackers Belotti, spell Verratti, are advised by experienced midfielder De Rossi and ditto defender Barzagli.
Italy: Serie A stars, Sweden has people from eg Super League, Emirates and the second best English series (but also Russia and the big leagues).
Sweden ended the group game with 0-2 losses in Holland (which should win 7 goals to overtake). Also lost 3 out of 5 week games.
The experienced Swedish rightback Lustig has a quarantine in the 1st playoff match. However, habile replacements in Bologna start Krafth and BIF manager Larsson.
The big and seasoned Swedish striker Toivonen is bench heater in Toulouse (got 30 minutes last weekend).
The same with midfielder Lindelöf in Man Utd where he played only 2 matches in October and was out of the squad this weekend.
The left-handed right-hand triangle, Durmaz, has not played since September. Hardly in the starting form. Replaces Claesson (with Holland) clearly less experienced.
PREDICTION: Italy win @ 2.37
