Sweden look to forward flair

'Looking good'
Although separated by a decade in years and 52 caps in international football, the forwards are united by a common cause as the Swedes look to advance from a section including Italy and Denmark. "You have to do your best, work hard and see what happens," said Larsson, who played against Bulgaria in the third-place play-off at the 1994 FIFA World Cup. "We've had a fantastic time so far in Portugal and everything's looking good."

Duo confident
Despite a relative lack of experience playing together, Larsson and Ibrahimovic are confident they will perform in tandem. "We've learnt more about each other both on and off the pitch which is very important," said the 32-year-old Larsson. "If we play we'll see how our co-operation pays off."

Respect paid
Ibrahimovic was keen to deflect emphasis away from individuals and on to the team spirit that has served Sweden so well in the past. "We've got a lot of individually skilful players but Sweden have always built success around the team and that has not changed here," said the AFC Ajax man. "We believe in ourselves as a unit."

Air of anticipation
This strong focus exists throughout the training camp, with the 23-man squad concentrating only on Monday night. "It's different the closer you get to the game," said Anders Andersson of the atmosphere in the camp. "The amount of freedom lessens and you can feel that something big is about to happen." Andersson will certainly be used to the setting in the Portuguese capital, having spent last season on loan at CF Os Belenenses.

Tactical preparation
Sweden co-coaches Tommy Söderberg and Lars Lagerbäck held a tactical session last night. "It's vital that the boys know who we are facing and it's always good to see how you can best use your tactics to exploit weaknesses," said Söderberg. More should be known about the starting lineup after tomorrow's training session at the Estádio José Alvalade.