FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Sweden can hurt Portugal in Stockholm

Sweden’s forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic shake hands with Portugal’s forward Cristiano Ronaldo

It’s advantage Portugal from the first leg at Lisbon yet over a two legged affair in a World Cup play-off match it is only half time and anything can happen in football. Cristiano Ronaldo‘s late winner at Lisbon’s Luz Stadium on Friday keeps Portugal ahead of a dogged Sweden side going into Tuesday’s second leg at the intimidating Friends Arena in Stockholm but the Scandinavians have enough firepower and mental strength to fight till the last minute. It was a typically strategic game on a tense night in Lisbon where the home side had the chances to score more goals but Sweden held firm until Ronaldo‘s brave 82nd minute header and Erik Hamren’s side showed enough character to suggest Portugal’s Stockholm visit won’t be a cakewalk by any means.

Sweden’s direct approach combined with Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s lethal work ethic nearly did the trick in the first leg but Ibra and company will be far more aggressive on home ground backed by a fanatic Swedish home contingent.

“We fought hard and well, then one mistake – one goal. That’s how it is. We played a good team. Next we play them at home. We’ve got the measure of them now, and that’s an advantage. It’s the last game before the World Cup now, and from what I’ve heard it’s going to be a full house. Get behind us and we’ll make it.”- the Paris Saint Germain forward was quoted as saying right after the game.

One thing for sure, Tuesday’s second leg would be a feisty affair with Sweden likely to take the game to the Portuguese early on while the latter will definitely not sit back and defend the slender 1-0 lead. The home side will again look up to their talisman Ibrahimovic to provide the initiative but Sweden have other players who can do the trick against their more technically gifted opponents.

Cristiano Ronaldo will be at the heart of Swedish plans once again and while he was being dealt with efficiently in Lisbon on Friday, the Real Madrid star’s bravery and never say die attitude earned him and his country the all important winner. Even though the onus will be on Sweden to attack from the outset, coach Erik Hamren knows that if Portugal score early on it will be a mountain to climb and it will not be surprising if the home side rely on quick counter attacking football to hurt Paulo Bento’s men.

The Swedes can take heart from the fact that in their last qualifying group game against Germany they hit Joachim Low’s men with two well taken goals arising from efficient counter attacking football after soaking in all the German pressure and possession in the first half eventually losing a thrilling match. With tall figures like Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Johan Elmander in your side, Sweden can always rely on Sebastian Larsson‘s set pieces to trouble the physically shorter Portuguese side compared to their Scandinavian counterparts but for that to happen the home defense must be on guard not to let Ronaldo, Nani and company to run riot down the wings for this match could well be over in a blink of an eye if a certain Galactico is allowed to have a free run at the Swedish defense.

Above all with one of the stars of world football set to lose out on a ticket to the world’s most watched event in 2014 and with the 32-year old Ibrahimovic looking likely to be that unlucky person, this tie could well turn out to be a fight to the finish at Stockholm’s Friends’ Arena come Tuesday for both Ronaldo and Ibra are gems of world football who hate to be on the losing side. Portugal would certainly not want to miss out on a World Cup spot at their former colony next year while Sweden believe if they could come back from 4-0 down in Berlin to hold Germany 4-4 in a single half last year, turning over a 1-0 deficit over an entire match is within their grasp.