Sweden Vs Serbia
Sweden Vs Serbia Thursday, 9 June 2022 – 19:45 (BST)
UEFA Nations League
Pick: Serbia or Draw
Odds: 4/7
Bookmaker: Betfair
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 6 June 2022)
Preview: A first head-to-head since 2012 – and only their third ever – could go a long way in deciding which of these countries goes on to challenge Norway for promotion in League B Group 4. For Sweden, they will hope the advantage of playing at the Friends Arena, in Solna, gives them the edge against a Serbia outfit bidding for a fifth win in seven on the road.
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Table of Contents
Sweden – Victory dependent on how the backline performs?
A first home loss at the hands of Scandinavian neighbours Norway since 1938 was how Sweden followed up their 2-0 defeat of Slovenia in Ljubljana on Matchday 1. Janne Andersson couldn’t argue that his team didn’t see enough of the ball, finishing the contest at Friends Arena in Solna with more than 60% possession. And yet it took a long-range stunner in stoppage time from Anthony Elanga to get on the scoresheet.
Sweden have now notched four goals in six games, firing blanks in three of these. This has resulted in them winning once in 90 minutes – that aforementioned win in Slovenia – since last October (D1 L4). The answer to their problems, though, could reside in getting the defence back to its miserly best. All four of their previous victories saw them prevail ‘to nil’, having drawn or lost each of the last five in which they conceded.
Key Stat: Prior to Sunday’s 2-1 loss to Norway, there had been Under 2.5 Goals and Both Teams to Score NO in seven successive Sweden matches.
Serbia – Mitrovic will ensure Eagles won’t be kept quiet?
With recent first-hand experience of losing to Norway, Serbia will understand what upcoming opponents Sweden are going through right now. In fairness, though, last Thursday’s loss to Erling Haaland’s decisive strike was harsh on Dragan Stojkovic and his players, having been the better team throughout. Profligacy in the final third cost them that evening, a mistake they would not repeat next time out.
Sunday’s 4-1 rout of Slovenia in Belgrade was a near-perfect response to what was only a second loss across their previous ten matches (W7 D1). In this period, meanwhile, they would notch three or more goals on five occasions. So they bring a devastating amount of firepower to Sweden, with Aleksandar Mitrovic the chief threat after taking his tally for his country to 45 in 73 senior appearances with his brace last time out.
Key Stat: Serbia haven’t failed to score across all of their last ten competitive away games, while they’ve not tasted defeat in a said fixture since a 5-0 scoreline in Ukraine three years ago (W5 D5).
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Sweden vs Serbia Betting Advice
With only one promotion spot up for grabs and said spot currently in possession of Norway, who retain a three point lead ahead of hosting a Slovenia that has lost both group games thus far, it is fair to surmise that neither Sweden or Serbia can afford to settle for anything less than the win in Solna. Meanwhile their two previous meetings did produce a winner, and both times it was the home side that prevailed.
Sweden vs Serbia – Key Facts:
- The countries are meeting for the very first time in a competitive environment having met only twice, both in friendlies, prior to this. The pair are locked on one win apiece ahead of Thursday’s clash in Solna, Sweden.
- Both teams have enough form behind them to be encouraged. Sweden lost last time out to Norway but that remains their sole loss across their past six home matches (W4 D1 L1).
- Serbia are usually reliable for a goal on their travels meanwhile, having found the net in each of their last ten such matches, going unbeaten in each of these contests (W5 D5).
If you include extra-time, Sweden had won five consecutive home games prior to Sunday’s defeat here to Norway. But with four wins in their last six away, including in Portugal to secure WC qualification, Serbia are no pushovers. The latter would score across all of the last ten competitive away matches, and one thing we’ve learned recently about this Swedish side is they don’t produce many victories after conceding.
Best Betting Odds – Sweden Vs Serbia
Sweden – 13/10
Draw – 2/1
Serbia – 11/5
(All odds courtesy of Betfair)
