Swedish National Team Faces Challenges Without Key Superstars

The heat is swaying in Budapest. Friday evening's international match is played in around 30 degrees. Still, the Swedish national team is ice-cold. Half of the starting eleven is missing – and none of the superstars are available to the national team manager Jon Dahl Tomasson.

» Published: June 05 2025

Swedish National Team Faces Challenges Without Key Superstars
Photo: Jakob Åkersten Brodén/TT

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The meeting with Hungary at Puskás Aréna (kick-off 19.30) on national day is followed by the match against Algeria at home in Solna on Tuesday.

There will not be a repeat of the warm-up for the autumn's European Championship qualification. Key players like Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyökeres, Dejan Kulusevski and Victor Nilsson Lindelöf are missing.

Additionally, a few other current starting players are absent.

Here is a guide to the match:

TV/radio: Viaplay and TV6/P4 radiosporten.

Missing for private reasons: Victor Nilsson Lindelöf is going to be a father and may join the team.

Injured: Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyökeres, Dejan Kulusevski, Sebastian Nanasi, Lucas Bergvall, Gustaf Nilsson.

Back 1: Bundesliga professionals Hugo Larsson and Daniel Svensson were intended to play against Luxembourg and Northern Ireland in March, but had to withdraw.

Back 2: Jordan Larsson is included in the national team for the first time since 2021.

Newcomers: Axel Norén, John Mellberg, Victor Eriksson, Alexander Bernhardsson, Momodou Sonko.

Opponent: Hungary usually draws a full house at home in Budapest. Willi Orbán, Roland Sallai and Dominik Szoboszlai are the team's stars. Aron Csongvai, who normally plays for AIK, is part of the team.

Hungary (squad):

Goalkeepers: Dénes Dibusz, Ferencváros, Péter Szappanos, Paks, Balázs Tóth, Blackburn Rovers.

Defenders: Botond Balogh, Parma, Márton Dárdai, Hertha Berlin, Attila Mocsi, Rizespor, Willi Orbán, Leipzig, Gábor Szalai, Ferencváros.

Midfielders: Bendegúz Bolla, Rapid Wien, Aron Csongvai, AIK, Milos Kerkez, Bournemouth, Bence Dárdai, Wolfsburg, Zsolt Nagy, Puskás Akadémia, Loic Nego, Le Havre, Tamás Nikitscher, Kecskeméti, Mihály Kata, MTK, András Schäfer, Union Berlin, Attila Osváth, Paks, Callum Styles, West Bromwich, Alex Tóth, Ferencváros, Milán Vitális, Györ.

Forwards: Kevin Csoboth, St. Gallen, Dániel Gazdag, Columbus Crew, Roland Sallai, Galatasaray, Dominik Szoboszlai, Liverpool, Barnabás Varga, Ferencváros.

Head coach Marco Rossi.

Sweden (squad):

Goalkeepers: Viktor Johansson, Stoke, Robin Olsen, Aston Villa, Kristoffer Nordfeldt, AIK.

Defenders: Samuel Dahl, Benfica, Hjalmar Ekdal, Groningen, Victor Eriksson, Hammarby, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Lille, Isak Hien, Atalanta, Emil Holm, Bologna, Axel Norén, Mjällby, Ken Sema, Pafos, Daniel Svensson, Dortmund, John Mellberg, Salzburg.

Midfielders/forwards: Yasin Ayari, Brighton, Alexander Bernhardsson, Kiel, Anthony Elanga, Nottingham, Jesper Karlström, Udinese, Hugo Larsson, Eintracht Frankfurt, Benjamin Nygren, Nordsjälland, Anton Salétros, AIK, Hugo Bolin, Malmö FF, Besfort Zeneli, Elfsborg, Jordan Larsson, FC Köpenhamn, Momodou Sonko, Gent.

Head coach: John Dahl Tomasson.

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

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