The first-choice goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka, club teammate with Isak in Newcastle, is missing, as well as the forward Ivan Schranz and midfielder Juraj Kucka.
I'm not happy. Moreover, Ondrej Duda and Tomás Suslov are not in top form, said national team coach Francesco Calzona when he released his squad last week.
Slovakia was one of the big positive surprises at the European Championship last summer. The 1–0 win over Belgium received great attention. It could have been even better if Jude Bellingham's bicycle kick in the 95th minute hadn't taken England to the extension that Harry Kane decided.
So close was Slovakia to the quarterfinals.
Three goals in the European Championship
Ivan Schranz was with his three goals one of the top scorers in the European Championship. That he is missing at the National Stadium in Bratislava on Friday evening is a Slovakian setback on par with Isak not being in the Swedish starting lineup.
Skriniar, now in Paris SG after years in Inter, is impressed by Viktor Gyökeres' constant goal production.
I saw him already last season. He scored many goals in every match. We can see that he is a born goal scorer. He will be the biggest threat to us, says the center back.
Stanislav Lobotka, one of the architects behind Napoli's Serie A gold in 2023, warns against Sweden's midfield and attack.
There, Sweden has high quality. It will definitely not be an easy match.
To the extent that it has any significance at all, history speaks for Sweden, which has not lost any of the seven matches between the countries. But apart from a meeting on a winter tour, it has been even matches.
Has a handle on Slovakia
Jon Dahl Tomasson watched Slovakia on site during the European Championship. He has also spent a lot of time in front of the computer.
We have, of course, had someone from the association who has seen them live, but we have also watched all their matches in the European Championship, Nations League, and even matches before that. We have naturally analyzed every match.
On the computer, you can see 99 percent of everything, but it's always good to have someone who sees the match live. There, you can see details, such as how the coach coaches the team, how the bench tries to influence the referee.
Do you have a good picture of how Slovakia plays?
Yes, I have a clear idea of how they play. It's a good team, and I expect no surprises, says Tomasson.
1996: 2–1 in Helsingborg
2000: 0–0 in Bratislava (World Championship qualifying)
2001: 2–0 in Solna (World Championship qualifying)
2013: 0–0 in Zilina
2017: 6–0 in Abu Dhabi
2018: 1–1 in Solna
2021: 1–0 in St. Petersburg (European Championship)
Goalkeepers: Marek Rodák, al-Ettifaq, Henrich Ravas, Cracovia Krakow, Dominik Takác, Slovan Bratislava.
Defenders: Peter Pekarík, Zilina, Michal Tomic, Bodö/Glimt, Timotej Hranica, Zilina, Norbert Gyömbér, al-Kholood, Denis Vavro, Wolfsburg, Lubomír Satka, Samsunspor, Milan Skriniar, Paris SG, Adam Obert, Cagliari, Dávid Hancko, Feyenoord, Samuel Kozlovsky, Widzew Lodz.
Midfielders: Stanislav Lobotka, Napoli, Patrik Hrosovsky, Genk, Ondrej Duda, Hellas Verona, László Bénes, Union Berlin, Tomás Rigo, Banik Ostrava, Matús Bero, Bochum, Christián Herc, Dunajská Streda.
Forwards: Lukás Haraslín, Sparta Prag, Dávid Duris, Zilina, Leo Sauer, Breda, Lubomír Tupta, Slovan Liberec, Tomás Suslov, Hellas Verona, David Strelec Slovan Bratislava, Róbert Bozeník, Boavista.
National team coach: Francesco Calzona.
