Alexandersson sits out Spain test
Thursday, June 12, 2008
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Sweden will face Spain in Innsbruck with a new right flank after the full-back Niclas Alexandersson joined winger Christian Wilhelmsson on the treatment table.
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'Good feeling'
Unlike Wilhelmsson, who has been ruled out of UEFA EURO 2008™, the 36-year-old Alexandersson hopes to overcome a strained calf muscle sustained late in the opening victory over Greece in time for Sweden's final Group D fixture against Russia next Wednesday. "Had it been a more serious strain my EURO would have been over," said the IFK Göteborg player. "Having the opportunity to return is a good feeling. Hopefully our tournament will be a long one too."
Zlatan praise
Coach Lars Lagerbäck is expected to replace his most-capped player with Fredrik Stoor, an attacking full-back who has caught the eye in training. "An international player" is how Zlatan Ibrahimović describes the Rosenborg BK defender. Captain Olof Mellberg is also confident Stoor's inexperience – he has played six times for his country – will count for nothing against early leaders Spain on Saturday. "Fred's proved himself in training and when we played for 90 minutes together [in a March friendly] against Brazil. If a player is good enough, age or experience don't matter."