Euro 2012: Sweden v England preview
England take on Sweden in a crucial encounter in Kiev as both teams chase their first win in Group D.
Roy Hodgson’s Three Lions earned a creditable 1-1 draw in their opener against France, but the Swedes slipped to a 2-1 defeat by co-hosts Ukraine.
Hodgson is expecting a tough examination of his side in the Olympic Stadium but will not be looking to radically revamp his side.
“There won’t be wholesale changes, that’s for certain because we don’t have any injury problems and the players who did well against France are all hoping to get picked to play again,” he said.
Striker Danny Welbeck started against France and he is targeting goals, as he said: “You’ll see a much more determined England side.
“We’d have liked a win to start with, but we want to get forward and get more goals.
“We have to get more bodies into our attacking third and create more opportunities. When they arrive, the strikers will be ready to put them in.”
Sweden coach Erik Hamren is expecting more from his side following their opening defeat at the Olympic Stadium.
He said: “We’re not reaching the level we want to and that’s my responsibility as a coach.
“We didn’t show the courage we were supposed to. Only five or six players did. We all need all the players doing that.
“We were cowards in the first half and should have done more. I’m not happy with the team, I was expecting more.”
Team news
Skipper Steven Gerrard and Scott Parker are set to continue in England’s midfield after recovering from the clash with France, while Glen Johnson remains on antibiotics for a toe infection.
But the Three Lions will be without star striker Wayne Rooney, who serves the final game of his two-match suspension following his dismissal in Montenegro last October.
Liverpool’s Martin Kelly is likely to be their only other absentee as he struggles to recover from a virus.
For Sweden, striker Johan Elmander recovered from a fractured metatarsal to feature as a second-half substitute in the defeat to Ukraine and coach Hamren could be tempted to start the former Bolton star as he searches for a win.
West Brom defender Jonas Olsson is expected to be recalled at centre-back, with Andreas Granqvist switched to right-back.