Prediction: Denmark vs Sweden

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 17/20

Bookmaker: 888sport

In their first of two all-Scandinavian friendlies, Euro 2024-bound Denmark will face Sweden at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen on Wednesday evening.

While Kasper Hjulmand’s team is fine-tuning their preparations for the European Championship, their visitors will not be competing for continental glory this summer.

Denmark

Despite being pushed hard by an improving Slovenia side in Euro 2024 qualifying Group H, Denmark secured first place through a superior head-to-head record, matching Slovenia’s 22 points from 10 matches.

Hjulmand’s team actually finished with a lower goal difference than Slovenia, but the tie-breakers became moot as both nations were drawn into the same Euros section, Group C, along with Serbia and 2021 runners-up England.

The Danes have a score to settle with England, having suffered a heartbreaking extra-time defeat to them in the Euro 2020 semi-finals. However, friendly matches against Nordic neighbors Sweden and Norway (on June 8) are the immediate focus before their short trip to Germany.

By the time the 1992 European champions lost 2-0 to Northern Ireland in their final qualifying match, they had already secured qualification. Their defensive record in 2024 remains unblemished, having drawn 0-0 with Switzerland and defeated the Faroe Islands 2-0 in March’s double-header.

Notably, Denmark have not conceded a goal in a home friendly for nearly seven years, maintaining an impressive 11 consecutive clean sheets since a 1-1 draw with Germany in June 2017. Their last home friendly defeat came back in 2015 against France.

Team News

After bringing his Premier League career back to track following his distressing collapse at Euro 2020, Manchester United’s Christian Eriksen will be part of Denmark’s squad for Euro 2024. Eriksen is the most prolific player in the team, with 40 goals to his name.

His Red Devils colleague Rasmus Hojlund will certainly aim to follow in his footsteps when it comes to finding the opposition net in the coming years. The only uncapped player in Denmark’s final 26-man squad, goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, also plays in England, plying his trade at Leicester City.

However, the omission of Celtic midfield maestro Matt O’Riley from Hjulmand’s selection was controversial, as were the exclusions of Philip Billing, Jesper Lindstrom, and Martin Braithwaite.

Sweden

Denmark’s impressive home record in friendly matches poses a daunting challenge for a Sweden side that underperformed in their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, amassing only 10 points from a possible 24, while Austria and Belgium secured the automatic qualification spots.

The Blue and Yellow also lacked the safety net of a Nations League play-off, leading to their first absence from the European Championships since 1996. Consequently, a new face has been brought in to restore order.

Sweden’s disappointing qualification campaign resulted in the departure of long-serving coach Janne Andersson and the appointment of former Blackburn Rovers head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson. Tomasson is the first non-Swede to lead the Blue and Yellow men’s team and will seek a surprise victory against his homeland on Wednesday.

Tomasson’s tenure began with a tough 5-2 loss to Portugal on March 21, but he soon secured his first win, a 1-0 triumph over Albania, thanks to Gustaf Nilsson’s winner.

Now, Sweden face their 108th meeting with familiar foes Denmark, holding a slight head-to-head advantage with 46 wins to Denmark’s 41. However, their most recent encounter in a November 2020 friendly ended in a 2-0 victory for Denmark.

Team News

Sweden are also without their celebrated center-forward, Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres, who impressed Arsenal and Chelsea with a remarkable first season in Portugal but is now sidelined for several weeks following knee surgery.

Fortunately for Tomasson, Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak is a highly capable alternative. The 24-year-old could be supported by his Premier League colleagues, Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga and Tottenham Hotspur’s Dejan Kulusevski.

However, Kristoffer Olsson is absent after being hospitalized earlier this year due to blood clots on the brain. The defensive duo of Linus Wahlqvist and Eric Smith has also withdrawn from the squad.

Conclusion

Sweden’s poor performance in Euro 2024 qualifying does not reflect the individual quality of Tomasson’s squad, particularly in attack. The visitors can approach their match against Denmark with less pressure.

Given this, Denmark’s impressive run of clean sheets in home friendlies may come to an end on Wednesday. However, Hjulmand’s men are likely to respond and secure a narrow victory.

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 17/20

Bookmaker: 888sport