Preview: Sweden vs. Austria - prediction, team news, lineups

Two nations battling it out for a top-two finish in Euro 2024 qualifying Group F convene on Tuesday evening, as Sweden host Austria.

The Swedes destroyed Estonia at the weekend to move within four points of their Austrian counterparts in the table, but defeat in Stockholm would leave them with a mountain to climb.

Match preview

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Sitting third in Group F following two defeats from three, Sweden were just two points above hosts Estonia as they kicked off a crucial European Championship qualifying double-header in Tallinn on Saturday.

Producing a second 5-0 win of the process, though, revives the Blagult's hopes of fighting back for a place in the top two, which would guarantee direct entry to next summer's finals.

As the post-Zlatan Ibrahimovic era develops, Sweden's next generation of forwards all contributed to a first-half display that put them three goals ahead at the break, as Viktor Gyokeres, Dejan Kulusevski and Alexander Isak found the net.

The Swedes also doled out a 5-0 defeat to Azerbaijan back in March, but losses to Austria and Belgium - both without scoring - have left Janne Andersson's side with plenty of work to do.

As things stand, Sweden - who were also absent at Qatar 2022 - face missing out on Europe's top international tournament for the first time since Euro 1996, as their most recent UEFA Nations campaign hampered hopes of sneaking through via the playoffs.

The 2018 World Cup quarter-finalists were relegated to that competition's third tier last season, leaving Andersson under pressure to get more from his players; and after a failed attempt at moving away from the classic Swedish 4-4-2, the former Halmstads coach has since reverted to type.

Having seen his side dispatch the group minnows, he now leads Sweden into a potentially pivotal contest on Tuesday, when defeat would see them all but out of the running for a top-two finish.

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Austria, meanwhile, occupy second spot in the standings and are level on 10 points with leaders Belgium at the halfway stage; putting them firmly on course for a place at a finals hosted by neighbours Germany.

Beating Sweden in June's reverse fixture was Das Team's most recent competitive outing, in which a late double from RB Leipzig midfielder Christoph Baumgartner kept their qualifying destiny within their own hands.

Having extended their unbeaten run to a seventh game on Thursday, when they were held to a 1-1 friendly draw by Moldova, the Austrians now resume their quest for a third straight Euros qualification - they had never featured at the finals at all before playing host in 2008.

German coach Ralf Rangnick is slowly finding his feet as Austria boss, after his reign began with just one win from six matches, and coming home from Belgium with a point certainly boosted morale in the camp.

Losing to Moldova on home soil may then have halted their momentum, but after going behind in the third minute and trailing 1-0 at the break, Rangnick made several changes during the second half - including the introduction of Real Madrid star David Alaba.

That ultimately proved sufficient to save face, as Michael Gregoritsch levelled matters in the 50th minute, but Austria will have to move up a gear if they are to effectively see off Sweden's top-two challenge on Tuesday.

Team News

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After Alexander Isak ended an eleven-game and 697-day goal drought for his national team by scoring on Saturday, the Newcastle United striker will lead the line again versus Austria, with Viktor Gyokeres his likeliest partner at Friends Arena.

Dejan Kulusevski should therefore feature on the right side of midfield, and 82-cap Emil Forsberg - Sweden's most experienced active player - starts on the opposite flank.

Injury withdrawals from Kristoffer Olsson, Hjalmar Ekdal and regular left-back Ludwig Augustinsson have reduced Janne Andersson's options this month, and in Augustinsson's absence, Malmo veteran Martin Olsson vies with Watford's Ken Sema for selection in defence.

Meanwhile, Austria will revert to their strongest available XI in Stockholm, having experimented a little in last week's friendly fixture with Moldova: Christoph Baumgartner, star striker Marko Arnautovic and captain David Alaba are among those set to start for the visitors, having only made substitute appearances on Thursday.

Freiburg's Michael Gregoritsch may expect to keep his place up front, though, following four goals in his last five international appearances; clubmate Junior Adamu - his partner in June's home win over Sweden - was not called up by Ralf Rangnick due to a knee injury.

Sweden possible starting lineup:
Olsen; Wahlqvist, Lindelof, Hien, Olsson; Kulusevski, Cajuste, Ekdal, Forsberg; Isak, Gyokeres

Austria possible starting lineup:
Schlager; Posch, Lienhart, Alaba, Wober; Laimer, Schlager, Seiwald, Baumgartner; Gregoritsch, Arnautovic

We say: Sweden 1-1 Austria

Two well-matched teams are set for a close contest, but Austria have the advantage of knowing a draw would cement their status as qualification favourites. If Sweden can get their attacking weapons firing fully, then a crucial win could be theirs - but the visitors possess plenty of nous and may hold out for a precious point.


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