Duo join Sweden squad

By Jan Juhlin

Eddie Gustavsson and Alexander Östlund have joined the Sweden squad for Friday's friendly against Finland.

Potential replacements
Molde FK goalkeeper Gustavsson and Hammarby defender Östlund were added to Tommy Söderberg and Lars Lagerbäck's 23-man squad at their training camp in Gimo as potential replacements for the injured Andreas Isaksson and Michael Svensson.

Hip problems
Djurgårdens IF goalkeeper Isaksson is suffering from the effects of a hip injury and has missed his side's last two Allsvenskan games. However, team physio Magnus Forsblad is confident that he will be fit to play at UEFA EURO 2004™.

'He'll be fit'
"I believe he'll be fit for the first game of the tournament," said Forsblad. "The injury has healed well and the only thing that could endanger it is if he had a recurrence of the injury. It's touch and go if he can play against Finland on Friday, but if he's not fully fit he'll rest."

Svensson doubts
However, for Southampton FC defender Svensson, it seems time may be running out as he has still not fully recovered from a knee injury. "Michael will continue his rehab training at the camp, and after that we'll decide whether he'll travel to Finland with us, and also whether he'll be going to EURO 2004™," said Lagerbäck. "If Michael can't go, Östlund will replace him in the squad."

Duo recovered
Svensson was one of three players named in the squad on the condition that they prove their fitness to their coaches before the finals. The other two, Aston Villa FC's Marcus Allbäck and Celtic FC's Johan Mjällby, have both been able to train as normal and look certain to travel to Portugal.