Sweden seeking silverware

By Tim Dykes in Düsseldorf

When Torbjörn Nilsson arrived in Germany for UEFA European Under-21 Championship he insisted his side's aim was to qualify for the Olympic Games by finishing at least third. But after watching his team win all three of their Group B games to set up Saturday's semi-final with Serbia and Montenegro, the Swedish coach now wants to see them lift the trophy.

'Very excited'
"We've moved our main goal to winning the tournament," Nilsson revealed on the eve of the Oberhausen semi-final. "All the players are fit, the team is very excited at being in the last four and I'm sure we'll play well."

'Talented players'
Nilsson, whose team are the only side to boast a 100 per cent record at the championships, said he was planning to pick the brains of chief scout Roland Larsson over the Serbo-Montenegrin side but added: "Serbia and Montenegro have some very talented players - it will be a good game."

Elmander confident
Leading striker Johan Elmander, back in the side after being rested during the 3-1 win against Switzerland on Wednesday, is confident the Swedes can continue their run of form. "The Swedish team will win," said the Brøndby IF forward. "Then when we have won the semi-final, we will also win the final."

Costly booking
Standing in their way are Vladimir Petrovic's free-scoring Serbo-Montenegrins, averaging two goals per game but without the suspended Danko Lazovic, who scored against Belarus on Tuesday but also picked up a costly booking. The only other absentee is first-choice goalkeeper Vladimir Dišljenkovic, who has still not recovered from injury.

Solution needed
Petrovic is determined to find a way around Lazovic's non-involvement. "We will find a solution to this," the coach promised. "The players are very satisfied. We only need to win one of our remaining matches to qualify for the Olympic Games."

Delibašic determined
RCD Mallorca striker Andrija Delibašic hopes that win will come on Saturday in Oberhausen - an that he will make a vital contribution. "I am ready to score my first goal," the 23-year-old forward said. "I want to score for everybody and was a little bit upset not to score against Belarus."