Our prediction for this match:
Sweden
Match Time & Date:
25/03/2024
19:00
Prediction: 1-0
Albania
Friends Arena will host Monday’s friendly between Sweden and Albania, the two teams who meet for the first time since October 2009. The Swedes aim to make amends for a heavy 5-2 loss to star-studded Portugal and we are positive that they will take this warm-up game very seriously. New York Red Bulls forward Emil Forsberg is widely expected to return to the starting XI as well as Royale Union SG man Gustaf Nilsson, who scored as a substitute in the defeat to A Selecao.
Sylvinho’s men, on the other hand, continue their preparations for the EURO 2024 finals in style, but seeing that Sweden are a real force to be reckoned with at home, we predict that the visitors are going to return home empty-handed from the trip to Stockholm. A man to keep an eye on in the away team will be Armando Broja, who plays for the Premier League side Fulham, on loan from Chelsea.
Highlighted Player (Elseid Hysaj):
Born on 2nd February 1994, Elseid Hysaj is an Albanian defender who has spent his entire professional career in Italian Serie A and he is predicted a bright future in the game. Empoli scouts spotted his talent while he was playing for Shodra youth sides, and after three years in the youth team, the full-back was promoted to the first team set up.
Hysaj performed really well in his first three years as a first team regular, helping the Azzurri gain promotion to the top fight in the process. One season in Serie A proved enough for the right-sided defender to secure a big club move as he joined Napoli in the summer of 2015 and immediately nailed down a regular starting berth.
Capable of doing dirty defensive work as well as making forward runs, Hysaj is a modern full-back, who is destined for big things. The talented footballer is already a key member of the Albania national team and he will represent the country at the Euro 2016 finals.
Highlighted Team (Sweden):
Sweden are the most successful Nordic side on international stage having been present at major competitions since 1934. Blagult missed out on the 1952 World Cup trophy on home soil as they were beaten by star-studded Brazil side, while they finished in third place at the 1950 and 1994 tournaments, and finishing fourth on their second appearance in 1938.
As far as their European Championship record is concerned, Sweden also achieved their best result in front of home fans, reaching the last four in 1992, and they have since reached the quarter-finals at Euro 1994 in Portugal.
Anders Svensson and Thomas Ravelli are team’s most capped players with over 140 appearances each, but it is strikers Henrik Larsson and Zlatan Ibrahimovic that will go down as the most famous Swedish footballers in history. The later also leads the goalscoring charts with over 60 strikes for the national team and he is widely regarded as one of the most colourful characters, not only in Scandinavia, but in world football.
Everton
Liverpool
Bayern Munich 
Heidenheim
Aston Villa
Southampton
Crystal Palace 
Man City 
Betis 
Barcelona
Juventus 
Bologna
