Over 20,000 tickets have been sold for tonight's EM qualification match between Sweden and Ireland at Friends Arena.
This will therefore be one of the largest public festivals ever for the national team.
What: EM qualification in football.
When: Tonight at 18:30.
Where: Friends Arena, Solna.
TV/radio: SVT/P4 Radiosporten.
The group standings: 1) France, 9 points (+3 goal difference), 2) Sweden, 4 points (+2), 3) England, 4 points (+1), 4) Ireland, 0 points (-6).
Remaining matches: June 4: Sweden-Ireland, France-England; July 12: France-Sweden, England-Ireland; July 16: Sweden-England, Ireland-France.
Sweden's EM chances: After France's win over England, Sweden climbed to second place in the group due to a better goal difference than England. As France has a strong grip on the group win, the final round, where Sweden faces England at Gamla Ullevi, is expected to be decisive for second place. Only the top two teams qualify directly for the EM in Switzerland 2025. The third and fourth teams will play a playoff in the fall.
Last meeting: The teams met in the EM qualification just last Friday. Then, in Dublin, Sweden won comfortably 3-0, with two goals from Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.
The situation in Sweden: Nathalie Björn, who came off against Ireland, is undergoing individualized training and is a question mark.
Pubic pressure: The last time the national team played at Friends Arena, against Brazil in 2022, a new attendance record was set: 33,218 spectators. It looks like there will be a good turnout against Ireland as well, with around 21,000 tickets sold for the match. The national team has only attracted over 20,000 spectators to a home match three times before.
Sweden, possible starting lineup (4-3-3): Zecira Musovic – Hanna Lundkvist, Linda Sembrant, Magdalena Eriksson, Jonna Andersson – Filippa Angeldahl, Kosovare Asllani, Julia Zigiotti Olme – Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Madelen Janogy, Fridolina Rolfö.
Other squad members: Jennifer Falk (gk), Tove Enblom (gk), Nathalie Björn, Anna Sandberg, Matilda Vinberg, Sofia Jakobsson, Rosa Kafaji, Emma Kullberg, My Cato, Hanna Bennison, Ellen Wangerheim, Pauline Hammarlund, Hanna Glas.
Head coach: Peter Gerhardsson.
Ireland, possible starting lineup (5-3-2): Courtney Brosnan – Jess Ziu, Caitlin Hayes, Louise Quinn, Anna Patten, Katie McCabe – Megan Connolly, Lily Agg, Ruesha Littlejohn – Kyra Carusa, Amber Barrett.
Head coach: Eileen Gleeson.
33,218: Sweden-Brazil, June 28, 2022, friendly match, Friends Arena, Solna.
25,882: Sweden-Germany, April 6, 2019, friendly match, Friends Arena.
20,302: Sweden-Switzerland, May 8, 2002, friendly match, Råsunda, Solna.
16,608: Sweden-Germany, July 24, 2013, EM semifinal, Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg.
16,414: Sweden-Finland, July 13, 2013, EM group stage, Gamla Ullevi.
Source: Swedish Football Association.
