UEFA Nations League: Slovakia and Sweden in Early Promotion Clash

Slovakia vs Sweden

It’s international weekend again folks; it doesn’t seem long since the last one but here we go again and there are points to be had in some fascinating tussles throughout Europe.

UEFA Nations League: Slovakia vs Sweden brings together two teams in form, both with two wins in the bag and sitting joint top of Group C 1, and with a big advantage over the other two nations in the group, Estonia and Azerbaijan. And that means that one of these two teams will get promoted up to Group B at the end of the 2024/25 competition.    

14 places separate the nations in the FIFA World Rankings, with John Daal Tomasson’s

Sweden in 28^th position, and Francesco Calzona’s Slovakia in 42^nd; and the SBOTOP odds predict a hard fought game. Sweden have some exciting forward players but they will meet a Slovakia team which will be difficult to break down. 

 

Talking Points

Slovakia’s experience makes them harder to beat

With two wins in the bag and no goals yet conceded Slovakia have done all asked of them so far, and now they face their biggest challenge in the group yet. Captained by Paris Saint-Germain centre back Milan Skriniar, with Newcastle United keeper Martin Dubravka as the last line of defence, this is a rearguard with plenty of top flight experience and European nous.

Skriniar is a key part of the PSG team which continues to dominate Ligue 1 following the departure of Kylian Mbappe to Madrid while Dubravka has played over 150 games for the Magpies and has 49 international caps. Hellas Verona’s midfielder, Ondrej Duda, with 15 goals in 78 matches for Slovakia is a real creative presence, scoring a penalty in his nation’s 2-0 win over Azerbaijan last week, while Napoli’s Stanislav Lobotka is one of the best holding midfielders in the game, with four goals in 61 appearances for Slovakia.   

There is less experience among the strikers where 24 year old Boavista forward Robert Bozenik is the leading scorer in this group with seven international goals. At 6ft 2in he’s a strong presence in the air and Bozenik is good with both feet, able to hold the ball up and make space for on-running midfielders. Alongside him, 22 year old Tomas Suslov of Hellas Verona is an attacking midfielder or right winger with an eye for goal, scoring Slovakia’s winner in their 1-0 victory over Estonia. 

 

Gyokores’ chance to stake his claim Sweden

With no Alexander Isak in the Scandinavians’ line up, one player I expect to feature heavily in the Slovakia vs Sweden highlights is Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokores. The 26 year old has scored 41 goals in 42 games for the Portuguese side, since his 20m Euros move from English Championship side Coventry, and he has nine goals in 22 appearances for Sweden. A strong runner who will stretch the opposition defence, Gyokores can be difficult to keep up with or to knock off the ball, and he has superb balance which enables him to shoot with either foot with great accuracy. An intelligent striker, while he loves nothing more than to score himself, Gyokores also works hard to bring his team-mates into play.        

With Tottenham Hotpsur’s Dejan Kulusevski also in the Swedish front line there is real quality in this Swedish side. He was part of the Tottenham team which went down to a 3-2 defeat in a Premier League clash away to Brighton at the weekend, after coming off the bench in a Europa league win over Ferencvaros, and Kulusevski will be keen to get back to winning ways for his country. A skilful dribbler with plenty of pace and an eye for the spectacular goal, the Spurs man can get the fans off their seats, as can Nottingham Forest’s speedy striker Antony Elanga who should also get some game time in Slovakia.

Captained by Manchester United centre back Victor Lindelof Sweden, as always, will be well organised at the back but their headline makers will be at the other end of the pitch. 

 

History

The Swedes are unbeaten against Slovakia, with two wins and two draws. Meanwhile, with three wins each from the last six games there is little to choose between these two nations, though with one draw and two defeats Slovakia have a slight edge over Sweden who have lost three.

 

Betting Tip

With the hosts at 2.39 to win and their visitors priced at 2.48, the Slovakia vs Sweden betting odds make this a very tight match to call and a draw at 3.06 is a distinct possibility.

I can see a 1-1 or a 2-1 either way in a well fought out game…and Gyokores to score.  

   

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