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The Swedes continued their impressive record in
qualifying campaigns, losing only the final game
- 1-0 at home to fellow qualifiers Latvia - when
their place in Portugal was already assured.
But a draw and narrow 2-1 victory over a modest
Hungarian side and their failure to beat Latvia
in two games shows the true nature of what is a
workmanlike Swedish side.
The massive void left by Henrik Larsson's retirement
from international football should be adequately
filled by the mercurial Zlatan Ibrahimovic in years
to come, but the 22-year-old Ajax striker is still
too inexperienced to single-handedly carry the burden
of Swedish hopes.
But the guile and work-rate of the English-based
pair of Freddie Ljungberg and Anders Svensson, coupled
with a solid defence, should give the Swedes a fighting
chance of getting through the group stages.
Prediction: Thoroughbreds will clear first
hurdle but fall in last eight
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