Looking to strengthen their promotion push following victory earlier in the week, Sweden will welcome Estonia to Strawberry Arena in Solna for a UEFA Nations League C match on Sunday night.
After losing three out of four friendly fixtures at the start of his reign in the managerial hotseat, Jon Dahl Tomasson recorded a maiden competitive victory as Sweden head coach at the first attempt on Thursday night, securing a 3-1 success over Azerbaijan in Baku to begin the 2024-25 Nations League schedule. Following their relegation from League B during the last edition, Blagult possesses some of the hottest attacking talent in League C this time around, with Alexander Isak bagging a brace and Sporting Lisbon talisman Viktor Gyokeres finding the net to seal a win over Fernando Santos's troops.
That being said, Sweden took a while to reach top gear in Baku and could have found themselves behind just before the half-time break, when Stoke City goalkeeper Viktor Johansson denied Azerbaijan's Ramil Sheydaev from the penalty spot, with the 25-year-old replicating his good performances from the Championship in recent years. Blagult will be looking to avoid a repeat of their most recent home fixture on June 8, when Sunday's hosts welcomed Euro 2024-bound Serbia to Friends Arena, with the visitors securing a three-goal victory courtesy of strikes from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dusan Tadic.
With Slovakia and Sweden residing in the four-team section, Estonia face an uphill task as they aim to secure a top-two finish in this season's Nations League, with Sunday's visitors to Solna suffering an opening-round defeat at the hands of Francesco Calzona's side in Tallinn on Thursday. Creating just 0.16 expected goals and enjoying only 39% possession, it was a difficult evening for the Blueshirts last time out, with a second-half strike from Slovakian winger Tomas Suslov, who currently plays for Hellas Verona in Italy, securing maximum points for one of England's Euro 2024 victims.
After narrowly missing out on a result earlier in the week, Estonia are back on the road in a competitive sense for the first time since a sobering night in Warsaw during March, when Thomas Haberli's side suffered a 5-1 defeat to Poland in their Euro 2024 playoff semi-final. Following a trophy-laden six-year spell in charge of Estonian powerhouses Flora Tallinn, Jurgen Henn is now in control of the national team, with the 39-year-old tasked with keeping his country afloat in a tricky-looking League C section.
Sweden's Form and Key Players
Sweden's latest result ended a run of consecutive defeats and they will be looking to build on that this Sunday. They have won three of their last four games on home soil and will head into the weekend clash as clear favorites. The Blue and Yellow put together a five-star performance in their opening game and currently sit at the top of the table with three points in hand. They will want to take full advantage of their dominant record against Estonia going into this game. Their recent performances have been punctuated by the standout performances of their key players, particularly the Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak. Isak scored twice in the second half to help wrap up a 3-1 victory against Azerbaijan. The 24-year-old has 13 strikes to his name for the national team. His physical presence coupled with his pace and finishing abilities makes him a very tough player to deal with.
Estonia's Recent Struggles
Estonia on the contrary started their UEFA Nations League campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Slovakia, their fifth loss of 2024. Things have gone from bad to worse for the Blueshirts because they have now lost 10 of their last 13 games. They need to do the unthinkable if they want to get back to winning ways. This match will prove a chance to improve their record against Sweden. Estonia’s skipper Karol Mets has been one of the most consistent players for the national team. Mets was among the few good performers for Estonia in their game against Slovakia. Known for his rigidity at the back and ball-winning abilities, Mets is one of the best defenders that Estonia has ever produced. He will have the responsibility to keep a check on the Blue and Yellow’s brilliant attacking lineup.
Head-to-Head
Sweden have a dominant record against Estonia, with a total of 19 matches played between the two sides. Sweden have won 17 of those matches, while Estonia have only managed 2 draws. It's no surprise then that Sweden are heavily favored to win their upcoming fixture.
Prediction
Sweden secured a win in their last game and are flying high coming into this game. We expect them to secure their 18th win over Estonia over the weekend. Estonia might put up a good show, but a win is still a distant possibility for them.
Where to Watch
You can watch the game on the following channels:
- India: Sony Sports Network, SonyLIV
- UK: ITVX, Premier Sports
- US: FOX Sports App, Fox Sports 2
- Nigeria: SuperSport, DStv Now
Final Thoughts
The upcoming game between Sweden and Estonia promises to be an interesting clash between two teams in different stages of their development. While Sweden will be looking to maintain their momentum and secure their second win of the tournament, Estonia will be hoping to pull off an upset and salvage some pride. The match will be a great opportunity for both teams to test themselves against quality opposition.
This match will be a great opportunity for both teams to test themselves against quality opposition. With a full squad available and a clear goal to secure a win, Sweden has the upper hand going into this game. However, Estonia may have a plan up their sleeve, and a close encounter is highly anticipated.
Be sure to tune in on Sunday to witness this exciting matchup and see if the Blagult can maintain their momentum or if the Blueshirts will pull off a surprise.
