Risp earns another Sweden chance
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Article summary
Sweden coach Lars Lagerbäck has called up Ankaraspor AS's Fredrik Risp for the friendly with Brazil - almost two and a half years after his last inclusion.
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Mid-season move
Risp, 27, gained the last of his three caps in a friendly draw with Korea Republic on 12 November 2005, and has since had to overcome a cruciate ligament injury and a spell out of favour at Turkish club Trabzonspor. After featuring just once in the Süper Lig in the first half of this season, Risp moved on to Ankaraspor where he has become a regular fixture.
'Great' feeling
"It feels great," said Risp, looking ahead to next Wednesday's game at the Arsenal Stadium. "I'm worth the chance and I'll do my utmost to take it. The move to Ankaraspor was a huge boost for me. I play regularly and have done well in my view. I know I've been in the frame and now I'll do my very best."
Other options
Risp faces competition from Peter Larsson (Halmstads BK), Mattias Bjärsmyr (IFK Göteborg) and Andreas Granqvist (Wigan Athletic FC) for the last central defensive berth behind Olof Mellberg, Daniel Majstorovic and Petter Hansson, all of whom are almost certain to be included in Lagerbäck's final
squad for UEFA EURO 2008™. Hansson is omitted from this squad as his wife is expected to give birth next week and injuries rule out FC Groningen striker Marcus Berg and Galatasaray AS midfielder Tobias Linderoth.
Goalkeepers: Andreas Isaksson (Manchester City FC), Rami Shaaban (Hammarby).
Defenders: Erik Edman (Wigan Athletic FC), Mikael Nilsson (Panathinaikos FC), Fredrik Risp (Ankaraspor AS), Olof Mellberg (Aston Villa FC), Daniel Majstorovic (FC Basel 1893), Fredrik Stoor (Rosenborg BK).
Midfielders: Fredrik Ljungberg (West Ham United FC), Niclas Alexandersson (IFK Göteborg), Daniel Andersson (Malmö FF), Kim Källström (Olympique Lyonnais), Kennedy Bakircioglü (AFC Ajax), Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham City FC), Christian Wilhelmsson (RC Deportivo La Coruña), Anders Svensson (IF Elfsborg)
Forwards: Markus Rosenberg (Werder Bremen), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (FC Internazionale Milano), Marcus Allbäck (FC København), Johan Elmander (Toulouse FC).