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| June 10, 2006 | Saturday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 13, 1427 |
Swedes seek flying start against depleted T&T
LEVERKUSEN, June 9: Sweden plan to ruin Trinidad & Tobago's World Cup debut on Saturday and give themselves a flying start ahead of seemingly tougher matches against Paraguay and England.
Swedish coach Lars Lagerback has drummed into his players that losing focus against the Group B outsiders could prove costly in the final analysis.
Trinidad & Tobago suffered a blow on the eve of the match when central defender Marvin Andrews was ruled out with a knee injury.
Defender Olof Mellberg believes the group will develop into a three-horse race, with Trinidad & Tobago the also-rans.
“It's wide open and we are determined to make it hard for England,” said the centre-half.
“In South America, they will think Paraguay have a really good chance of going through and if you ask people in Sweden, they will back us.”
Sweden won a tough group four years ago ahead of England, Argentina and Nigeria and hope to do it again.
They rattled in 30 goals in their 10 qualifying matches, their potent attack led by Henrik Larsson, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Freddie Ljungberg.
They will have to field an inexperienced goalkeeper after first choice Andreas Isaksson suffered concussion when he was felled by a shot during a training session on Wednesday. The choice is between John Alvbage and Rami Shaaban.
Trinidad & Tobago are the smallest country in the finals -- the two-island country has a population of just 1.1 million.
Coach Leo Beenhakker will have to reshape his defence after the withdrawal of Andrews, who plays in Scotland with Glasgow Rangers.
“Marvin Andrews is injured and for sure he will not make it for (Saturday),” Beenhakker said on Friday.
Andrews tweaked a knee in training on Thursday and after a scan doctors said the injury should be left for 24 to 48 hours before determining how long he would be out.
“We know our group is full of top attackers. Sweden have Henrik Larsson and Zlatan Ibrahimovic and they are an awesome pairing,” Beenhakker said.
The Dutchman is upbeat about the task his eclectic team of journeymen face as group minnows and believes they could just cause an upset.
“I think a lot of people will be surprised at what we will be able to do at the World Cup. This is a very good squad of players.”
Probable teams:
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (4-4-2): 1-Shaka Hislop; 6-Dennis Lawrence, 5-Brent Sancho, 3-Avery John, 8-Cyd Gray; 7-Chris Birchall, 9-Aurtis Whitley, 11-Carlos Edwards, 15-Kenwyne Jones; 14-Stern John, 19-Dwight Yorke.
Coach: Leo Beenhakker.
SWEDEN (4-4-2): 12-John Alvbage; 3-Olof Mellberg, 4-Teddy Lucic, 5-Erik Edman, 14-Fredrik Stenman; 6-Tobias Linderoth, 9-Fredrik Ljungberg, 21-Christian Wilhelmsson, 19-Daniel Andersson; 10-Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 11-Henrik Larsson.
Coach: Lars Lagerback.
Referee: Shamsul Maidin (Singapore).—Reuters
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