Sweden vs Belgium

Euro 2024 qualifying Group F gets underway for section favorites Sweden and Belgium as they lock horns in a handsomely-looking encounter at the Friends Arena.

Having missed out on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Sweden will be looking to return to a major tournament by securing a seventh consecutive qualification for the European Championship finals. Despite facing a more heavily fancied Belgium in their Group F curtain-raiser, the ‘Blagult’ will draw confidence from having won almost three-quarters of their last 22 Euro qualifiers on home soil spanning back to 2006 (W16, D5, L1). Sweden’s bid to take advantage of Belgium’s freefall has received a massive boost as the nation’s all-time leading goalscorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic returns to the national team at 41. Ibrahimovic’s comeback from retirement should inspire Sweden’s effort to build on an eye-catching four-game winning run in the build-up to this clash, having netted precisely two goals in all four wins.

On the other hand, Belgium qualified for the 2022 World Cup, but they wished they didn’t after suffering a thoroughly disappointing group-stage elimination for the first time in the 21st century. Another failed attempt to make a standout achievement at a major international tournament saw ‘De Rode Duivels’ sever ties with long-serving manager Roberto Martinez and bring Domenico Tedesco to fill the vacancy. The former RB Leipzig boss faces a challenging task to lead the country’s trophyless ‘Golden Generation’ to a first international silverware in the wake of Eden Hazard’s retirement from international football. Despite making several bizarre selection choices, Tedesco is adamant about continuing Belgium’s impressive streak of seven consecutive victories in away Euro qualifiers.