What: Sweden–Serbia, World Cup qualifiers, football, women, group A1.
Where: Strawberry Arena, Solna.
When: Saturday, kick-off 4:00 p.m.
TV/radio: SVT/P4 Radio Sporten.
Prerequisites: Denmark has gained a significant advantage in the group with a 2-1 victory over Sweden on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Italy managed to beat an injury-hit Serbia 6-0 and gained a strong goal difference going into the rest of the tournament. Only the group winner will qualify directly for the World Cup in Brazil next year, while the other three teams will be forced into playoff games this fall.
Lack of goals and victories: Sweden has only won one of seven matches under new national captain Tony Gustavsson. In addition, there have only been five goals so far, including the away match against Serbia which ended goalless. Against Denmark on Tuesday, Monica Jusu Bah was the only Swedish scorer - despite a cavalcade of chances.
Question mark: Johanna Rytting Kaneryd has had injury problems in one of her calves and was not ready for the Denmark match. However, the hope is that she can play parts of the Serbia match.
The opposition: Serbia drew 0-0 against Sweden in March, despite missing several key players even then. The current squad also includes Brighton star Jelena Cankovic.
Sweden's squad:
Goalkeepers: Tove Enblom (Vålerenga), Jennifer Falk (Liverpool), Zecira Musovic (Malmö FF).
Defenders: Bella Andersson (Real Madrid), Smilla Holmberg (Arsenal), Amanda Ilestedt (Frankfurt), Elma Junttila Nelhage (Lyon), Hanna Lundkvist (Manchester United), Amanda Nildén (Tottenham), Sofia Reidy (Hammarby).
Midfielders/Forwards: Filippa Angeldahl (Real Madrid), Hanna Bennison (Real Madrid), Stina Blackstenius (Arsenal), Rebecka Blomqvist (Frankfurt), Evelyn Ijeh (North Carolina Courage), Monica Jusu Bah (Häcken), Rosa Kafaji (Brighton), Beata Olsson (Liverpool), Fridolina Rolfö (Manchester United), Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (Chelsea), Felicia Schröder (Häcken), Matilda Vinberg (Tottenham), Julia Zigiotti Olme (Manchester United).
National team captain: Tony Gustavsson.
Serbia squad:
Goalkeepers: Milica Kostic, Sara Cetinja, Ema Aleksic.
Defenders: Violeta Slovic, Nevena Damjanovic, Mina Matijevic, Ana Scepanovic, Aleksandra Gajic, Ema Petrovic, Milica Gakovic, Milica Saric.
Midfielders/Forwards: Jelena Cankovic, Milica Mijatovic, Dina Blagojevic, Marija Ilic, Zivana Stupar, Sofija Sremcevic, Mina Cavic, Nina Matejic, Milica Bulatovic, Miljana Ivanovic, Sara Stokic, Anastasija Ciric.
National team captain: Lidija Stojkanovic.
