Comments and predictions for Slovakia vs Sweden: Unlucky home team

Having topped Group C Pot 1, Slovakia and Sweden will continue their battle for automatic promotion to the UEFA Nations League on Friday night, when they face each other in Bratislava.

Both teams won their first two games last month, so a head-to-head battle for the top spot could take place between now and November.

Latest Slovakia vs Sweden team information

In a headache for coach Francesco Calzona, Slovakia will be without a number of key players through injury for both Nations League games this month.

First-choice goalkeeper Martin Dubravka is absent, so Marek Rodak will step in between the sticks on Friday evening, while Euro star Ivan Schranz and veteran midfielder Juraj Kucka are also injured.

Furthermore, Verona pair Ondrej Duda and Tomas Suslov have also struggled with fitness recently - although both remain in the team - so Calzona may have to make a reluctant adjustment.

Meanwhile, Sweden are also without one of their brightest stars, Dubravka's Newcastle United team-mate Alexander Isak, meaning Viktor Gyokeres will be the visitors' sole centre-forward. Tottenham Hotspur winger Dejan Kulusevski will partner the Sporting man.

Goalkeeper Robin Olsen is absent again, having not been involved last month, while Celta Vigo centre-back Carl Starfelt and Club Brugge striker Gustaf Nilsson have also withdrawn.

Midfield duo Jens Cajuste and Mattias Svanberg are also unavailable, so promising Under-21 youngsters Hugo Bolin and Daniel Svensson - the latter of whom is said to be of interest to Liverpool - have been called up to cover. Tottenham youngster Lucas Bergvall could even be handed a start.

Latest predicted lineup Slovakia vs Sweden

Slovakia:

Rodak; Pekarik, Obert, Skriniar, Hancko; Benes, Lobotka, Duda; Duris, Strelec, Haraslin

Sweden:

Johansson; Krafth, Douglas, Hien, Gudmundsson; Karlstrom, Bergvall; Kulusevsky, Nanasi, Elanga; Gyokeres

Latest football commentary Slovakia vs Sweden

As the new Nations League campaign began in early September, Slovakia returned to the pitch for the first time since their surprise exit from Euro 2024, where they lost to eventual finalists England in the last 16.

On their way to the knockout stages, the Falcons beat Belgium and drew with Romania, so they still carry some positive momentum into last month's games against more modest opposition.

Their fight for promotion to League B began with a hard-fought win over Estonia in Tallinn, with Hellas Verona striker Tomas Suslov scoring the only goal of the game in the second half.

This was quickly followed by a 2-0 win over Azerbaijan in Kosice, where another Verona player, Ondrej Duda, converted a penalty before David Strelec almost sealed the game with a second goal for Slovakia.

After failing to mount a serious challenge for a place in Europe's second tier in 2022-23, Francesco Calzona's side are on track to at least qualify for the playoffs when this year's group stage concludes.

However, if they are to leapfrog Sweden into top spot, they will certainly need to end their drought against their opponents on Friday: Slovakia are yet to win in their previous six meetings - most recently a defeat at Euro 2020.

Meanwhile, Sweden captain Jon Dahl Tomasson is sitting level with Slovakia on six points, having eased past his first two Nations League opponents without conceding a goal.

After losing three of his first four friendlies in charge, Blagult's new coach Tomasson eased the pressure by recording two consecutive wins in official matches in September, following up a 3-1 win in Azerbaijan with a convincing home win three days later.

After also finding the net in Baku, Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres scored twice in Solna, while his strike partner Alexander Isak also netted his third of the campaign, as Sweden cruised to a comfortable victory.

After being relegated from League B in 2023, Sweden have emerged as the favourites for an immediate return, while a top-flight finish in Group 1 could lead to a place in the World Cup playoffs, if needed.

A full point haul this month would put them in a good position to top the table, but they have lost three of their last four away games ahead of a tough task at the Stadion Telhene Pole. These two are clearly the strongest sides in their respective Group C groups, and could be a close encounter, although both will be hampered by injuries.

Sweden are still searching for an identity under new management, but they have enough attacking talent to beat Slovakia and progress from the group with maximum points.

Slovakia vs Sweden score prediction

Based on the above football comments, we and the world's leading football sites have given the following results for the Slovakia vs Sweden match:

• Sportsmole: Slovakia 1-2 Sweden

• WhoScore: Slovakia 0-2 Sweden
• Our prediction: Slovakia 1-2 Sweden

When and where to watch Slovakia vs Sweden live?

To watch live the Slovakia vs Sweden match in the Nations League taking place at 0:45 on October 12, viewers can watch on TV360 here, Mytv system here or on online sports channels. Wishing viewers happy moments of watching football.

Source: https://baodaknong.vn/nhan-dinh-du-doan-slovakia-vs-thuy-dien-chu-nha-den-dui-231434.html