What: World Championship qualification, men, group B.
Where: Strawberry arena, Solna.
When: Friday, kick-off 20.45.
TV/radio: Viaplay/P4 radiosporten.
A must: Victory. Otherwise, the national team can basically forget the chance to win the group.
Opposition: Switzerland has qualified for five consecutive World Championship finals and is a clear favorite for the group victory and play in North America this summer. The squad is dominated by players from the German Bundesliga. Team captain Granit Xhaka (Arsenal, Leverkusen and now Sunderland) is a big profile.
Keep an eye on: Breel Embolo, who has already produced three goals. Dan Ndoye has made two goal-scoring passes and a goal in the qualification. He replaced Anthony Elanga in Nottingham in the summer when the Swede left for Newcastle.
Swiss cancellation: Fiorentina's midfielder Simon Sohm was forced to decline due to injury.
Situation in the group: 4–0 against Kosovo and 3–0 against Slovenia. Switzerland went on knock directly in September and tops the group. Due to a 2–0 win in Pristina against Sweden, Kosovo holds second place, which means playoff matches in March. Sweden and Slovenia are struggling in the table with one point each.
Matches during the October gathering: Friday: Sweden–Switzerland, Kosovo–Slovenia. Monday: Sweden–Kosovo, Slovenia–Switzerland.
Squads:
Sweden:
Goalkeepers: Viktor Johansson, Stoke, Kristoffer Nordfeldt, AIK, Noel Törnqvist, Mjällby.
Defenders: Gabriel Gudmundsson, Leeds, Hjalmar Ekdal, Burnley, Isak Hien, Atalanta, Emil Holm, Bologna, Carl Starfelt, Celta Vigo, Victor Nilsson Lindelöf, Aston Villa, Ken Sema, Pafos, Daniel Svensson, Dortmund, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Braga.
Midfielders/forwards: Yasin Ayari, Brighton, Roony Bardghji, Barcelona, Alexander Bernhardsson, Kiel, Anthony Elanga, Newcastle, Jesper Karlström, Udinese, Hugo Larsson, Eintracht Frankfurt, Benjamin Nygren, Celtic, Anton Salétros, AIK, Jordan Larsson, Copenhagen, Alexander Isak, Liverpool, Lucas Bergvall, Tottenham, Niclas Eliasson, AEK Aten, Viktor Gyökeres, Arsenal.
National team coach: Jon Dahl Tomasson.
Switzerland:
Goalkeepers: Marvin Keller, Young Boys, Gregor Kobel, Dortmund, Yvon Mvogo, Lorient.
Defenders: Manuel Akanji, Inter, Auréle Amenda, Frankfurt, Adrian Bajrami, Luzern, Nico Elvedi, Mönchengladbach, Luca Jaquez, Stuttgart, Miro Muheim, Hamburger SV, Ricardo Rodriguez, Real Betis, Isaac Schmidt, Bremen, Silvan Widmer, Mainz.
Midfielders/forwards: Breel Embolo, Rennes, Remo Freuler, Bologna, Cedric Itten, Fortuna Düsseldorf, Johan Manzambi, Freiburg, Dan Ndoye, Nottingham, Fabian Rieder, Augsburg, Vincent Sierro, al-Shabab, Djibril Sow, Sevilla, Ruben Vargas, Sevilla, Granit Xhaka, Sunderland, Andi Zeqiri, Widzew Lodz.
National team coach: Murat Yakin.
Referee: Anthony Taylor, England.
