Swedes fired up for Serbia showdown

Sweden go into their final Group A game against Serbia at the Malmö New Stadium aiming to secure a semi-final berth and, with it, exorcise a ghost that has been haunting them for more than two and a half years.

'Revenge'
The team from the Balkans crushed the Swedes 5-0 when the two last met in competitive action in October 2006 in a qualifying play-off for the 2007 Under-21 finals. That Serbian win in Trollhattan was a shattering response to Sweden's 3-0 first-leg success and the Scandinavians' joint-coach Jörgen Lennartsson admitted the "opportunity for revenge" might provide his charges with extra motivation. "If it matters at all, it's as a form of inspiration. But the teams this time are completely different, both Serbia and Sweden," added Lennartsson, perhaps mindful that only four players – Sweden's Johan Dahlin, Pontus Wernbloom and Marcus Berg and Serbia's Milan Smiljanić – featured in that match.

Krčmarević optimistic
The 'Little Eagles' have enjoyed the better of the sides' meetings before and since – winning on penalties in the 2004 semi-finals and 1-0 in a friendly last September – and the home coach warned that Sweden's one-point lead over their rivals could count for little on Tuesday night. "Before the tournament began, we said Italy and Serbia were the group favourites and that hasn't changed." Third-placed Serbia must win to reach a fourth successive U21 semi-final, while Sweden, second behind Italy, need only avoid defeat for their first last-four placing since 2004. Even so, Serbia coach Slobodan Krčmarević is optimistic. "For us, tomorrow's game is a quarter-final," he said. "Even if we'd already lost both games, with victory against Sweden we would finish above them."

Attacking dilemma
Krčmarević sounded unfazed by the forward power that has brought the Swedes six goals already, underlining instead the efforts of his unbreached back line. "The Sweden attackers are very good but don't forget we've already played against maybe better opposition in the Italian trio of [Sebastian] Giovinco, [Robert] Acquafresca and [Mario] Balotelli." Of greater concern is his team's ability to conjure a goal after stalemates against Italy and Belarus. Forward Miralem Sulejmani, seated beside his coach, spoke of the need for "someone in the centre-forward role", able to win aerial challenges and hold the ball. To this end Krčmarevic may introduce Rade Veljović or Slavko Perović in place of Marko Milinković. "I have a dilemma," Krčmarević conceded.

Atmosphere
The Sweden camp learned on Monday that Rasmus Elm's yellow card against Italy has been rescinded, yet their influential midfielder Wernbloom remains among the four Swedes and three Serbs one booking shy of a semi-final suspension. "I don't think Wernbloom will tackle any less against Serbia because of that," said Lennartsson of his most combative player. If the atmosphere hots up on the pitch, it should be fairly lively in the stands too, given the support Serbia enjoyed from several thousand fans in their last match against Belarus. "Sweden will have many more fans in the stadium than we do," said Krčmarević, "but I know that our supporters will give us strong backing and be our 12th man." Lennartsson also recognised the significant role both sets of fans could play. "We hope the Swedish spectators will show from the start who's playing at home. That will be important."