Malta today faces Sweden in Gothenburg in a Group One World Cup qualifier, the last before the summer break (kick-off 7pm).

After the narrow 1-0 defeat in Jablonec last Friday, against the Czech Republic, the team is in high spirits and coach Dusan Fitzel is optimistic of another spirited performance by his boys, even if he has some key players missing this evening.

For one reason or another, Brian Said, Gilbert Agius, Terence Scerri, Etienne Barbara and Michael Mifsud are absent from Fitzel’s squad.

But he now has defender Mannie Muscat and midfielder John Hutchinson, two players of Maltese origin who play in the Australian league, who made their debut for Malta in last Friday’s friendly against the Czech Republic.

Fitzel is expected to concentrate more on defence as he is aware of the strength of the Swedes who, after their debacle in Denmark last Saturday, will definitely have to win convincingly to get back into contention.

The Swedes will be playing without veteran star striker Henrik Larsson who will be missing after withdrawing from the squad following the sudden death of his brother.

Sweden coach Lars Lagerback called up striker Tobias Hysen to replace Larsson. He is the leading goal scorer in the Swedish first division. Another forward, Markus Rosenberg, withdrew from the squad before the Denmark qualifier after sustaining a knee injury in Werder Bremen’s last Bundesliga game of the season.

Hysen, the son of former Liverpool defender Glenn Hysen, is likely to start on the bench with Inter’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic leading the attack with either Marcus Berg of Groningen or Bolton’s Johan Elmander.

“We will have full respect and not underestimate Malta,” Lagerback said. “We have to play 90 minutes with full concentration.”

Despite his absence, Sweden will still be a strong force to contend with. Their strike force includes Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is considered as one of the world’s best.

Fitzel will be expected to adopt a 4-5-1 formation which can change to 3-5-2 if the need arises. But he is not expected to adopt rigid marking on the Inter striker.

Fitzel seems to be planning to contain the Swedes and keep them as far away as possible from our area. He has always insisted that Malta will always play its own match, whoever the opponent will be. And today’s match is no exception.

At the back Andrei Agius and Luke Dimech will be expected to be confirmed in the heart of the defence, while on the flanks, Fitzel may plan to utilise Mannie Muscat on the right and Shawn Bajada of Birkirkara on the left.

In midfield, with Gilbert Agius also missing, it should be Hutchinson, Briffa, Failla and Pace, while up front, with Michael Mifsud suspended and Scerri ruled out as he is not 100 per cent fit, Fitzel may opt to partner Daniel Bogdanovic with Andrew Cohen.

At present, Sweden lie in fifth place on just six points, seven away from second placed Hungary and 10 from first placed Denmark. But they have today’s match in hand, although they will have to win all their remaining matches to be able to reach the South Africa finals next year. Malta has played seven matches and obtained just one point from a home goalless draw against Albania.



Malta squad

Goalkeepers: Justin Haber (Sheffield Utd); Andrew Hogg (Valletta); Mario Muscat (Hibernians)

Defenders: Andrei Agius (Igea Virtus); Ian Azzopardi (Sliema W.); Jonathan Caruana (Hibernians); Luke Dimech (Valletta); Alex Muscat (Sliema W); Kenneth Scicluna (Valletta); Shawn Bajada (Birkirkara); Mannie Muscat (Wellington Phoenix)

Midfielders: Ryan Fenech (Hamrun S.); John Hutchinson (Central Coast Mariners); Roderick Briffa (Valletta); Jamie Pace (Valletta); Kevin Sammut (Marsaxlokk); Clayton Failla (Hibernians); Andrew Cohen (Hibernians)

Forwards: Daniel Bogdanovic (Barnsley); Andre Schembri (Carl Zeiss Jena); Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza (Birkirkara)



Sweden squad

Goalkeepers: Andreas Isaksson (PSV Eindhoven), Eddie Gustafsson (Salzburg).

Defenders: Andreas Granqvist (Groningen), Petter Hansson (Rennes), Adam Johansson (IFK Goteborg), Daniel Majstorovic (AEK Athens), Olof Mellberg (Juventus), Mikael Nilsson (Panathinaikos), Behrang Safari (Basel), Oscar Wendt (FC Copenhagen).

Midfielders: Daniel Andersson (Malmo), Anders Svensson (Elfsborg), Rasmus Elm (Kalmar FF), Viktor Elm (Heerenveen), Samuel Holmen (Brondby), Kim Kallstrom (Lyon), Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham), Christian Wilhelmsson (Al-Hilal).

Forwards: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter), Markus Rosenberg (Werder Bremen), Tobias Hysen (IFK Goteborg), Johan Elmander (Bolton), Marcus Berg (Groningen).