• English Site
• > SPIEGEL Blog
• > Football

Match Preview

Pressure on Germany as Sweden Provides First Real Test

With home support and a perfect three wins, host nation Germany is a favorite to progress in Saturday's round two World Cup clash with Sweden in Munich.

Germany came into the tournament low on confidence after some indifferent results but manager Jurgen Klinsmann has revived faith in the national team and their demanding public now expects them to swat aside Sweden and reach the quarter-finals.

The hosts could possibly then face mighty Argentina but Klinsmann insists his team have to take one step at a time.

"I am not even thinking of any possible quarter-final," said Klinsmann. "It will be very difficult against Sweden on Saturday. Now there are no easy games. We respect Sweden very much and have monitored all three of their games."

Sweden is certainly Germany's most difficult test so far and showed glimpses of its potential in its final 2-2 group draw with England. Lars Lagerback's team finished as Group B's runner-up behind England but had the 1966 world champions on the back foot for most of the second half as they twice came from behind to pin back Sven-Goran Eriksson's team.

Barcelona's Champions League winner Henrik Larsson, who scored Sweden's last-minute equalizer against England, admits his side are the outsiders but warned Germany to watch out for their set-pieces.

"Germany are favorites. They have home advantage and a great coach in Jürgen Klinsmann but we hope to pull off a surprise," Larsson said. "We showed against England how dangerous we can be from set-pieces. The two goals give us a lot of confidence."

Three-time World Cup winner Germany is full of confidence after a 3-0 demolition of Ecuador in Berlin on Tuesday completed a perfect three group wins.

Polish-born striker Miroslav Klose scored twice in that match to move to the top of the World Cup goalscoring charts with four and he is Germany's danger man.

"Miro is so hungry for success. Some players seem to thrive at World Cups and he is certainly one of them," said Klinsmann.

Klose now has nine World Cup goals in all and his next target is Klinsmann's career haul of 11. At his last outing in Munich, Klose scored a brace in the 4-2 opening win over Costa Rica on June 9 and both he and Germany will hope for a repeat performance.

The match is full of intriguing match-ups, none more so than German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann trying to shut out his Arsenal team-mate Freddie Ljungberg.

"We said before the tournament that this could happen," explained Ljungberg. "Jens Lehmann is my friend but now I have do him harm."

Sweden crashed out at this stage at the 2002 World Cup with Senegal triumphing 2-1 on the golden goal rule and they will want to cure that pain four years on.

Juventus striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a major doubt after missing the England draw with a strained groin muscle and coach Lagerback must wait on the enigmatic forward.

Germany still has doubts over defender Christoph Metzelder who missed the Ecuador win after twisting his knee in training. Robert Huth, a recent signing for English side Middlesbrough, may deputize once again.

afp