World Cup 2022: Sweden Have The Measure Of Greece

Sweden vs Greece

World Cup 2022: Sweden vs Greece is the entertainment on offer at the Friends Arena in Stockholm on Tuesday, when the hosts will aim to put some serious distance between themselves and their visitors.

Sitting in second place in European qualifying Group B, the Swedes are on 12 points, one behind leaders Spain, and three ahead of Greece. Janne Anderson’s team has lost just once in this campaign, and that was against their upcoming opponents in a clash in Athens last month. But the experienced and determined Swedes are sure to have learned from that disappointment.

The pre-match Sweden vs Greece betting odds say the hosts will stretch their lead over Greece to six points and that’s where I’m heading.

Talking Points

Sweden as solid as ever

Andersson has coached Sweden since 2016 and he has built a team in his own dependable image; the Swedes have a 2021 record of ten wins, one draw and two defeats.

With the experience of Robin Olsen, now at Sheffield United, in the goals, Manchester United centre back Viktor Lindelof captaining the side and Red Bull Leipzig’s Emil Forsberg in an advanced midfield role this team has plenty of caps and wins under its belt. And up front there are two exciting prospects in Juventus’ 21 year old striker Dejan Kulusevski and Real Sociedad’s 22 year old Alexander Isak, who already has eight international goals. They will be without Kulusevski for the Greece game after he picked up a second yellow card against Kosovo, but Isak is in fine form, scoring against both Kosovo and in a recent 2-1 victory over Spain.

This team has plenty of depth with midfield pair Viktor Klaessen and Seb Larsson still performing at the highest standard.

Greece turning draws into wins

World Cup 2022: Greece have won in Euro 2004 — Greece coach John van’t Schip celebrates with Anastasios Bakasetas after their match against Georgia

With only one loss in 2021, a friendly away defeat to Switzerland, the Piratiko are a side to be taken seriously, and they have started to turn World Cup qualifying draws into wins. Greece started the campaign with three 1-1s, against Spain, Georgia and Kosovo, but over the past five weeks they have beaten Sweden and Georgia.

Head coach John van’t Schip has put together a side with a Greek League core, including the experienced AEK Athens duo of defender Giorgos Tsavellas and midfield playmaker Petros Mantalos, while captain Tasos Bakasetas is an attacking midfielder with three goals so far in this tournament.

And Greece have some developing talent in the shape of 25 year old Liverpool defender Kostas Tsimikas and 22 year old AZ Alkmaar striker Vangelis Pavlidis, who has five goals from 18 internationals.

History

Despite sitting 28 places lower in the FIFA World Rankings (46^thto 18^th), Greece have arguably the more illustrious history of the two teams. They won the European Championships in 2004 when they beat hosts Portugal in the final, and they reached the Round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup.

Sweden were World Cup runners up in 1958 when they hosted the tournament and, while that is as close as they have come to tasting glory, they have been, consistently, one of the most difficult sides to beat in World football over the past decade.

The historic Sweden vs Greece results have gone the way of the Greeks, by two to one.

In the last meeting, in September, Greece sprung a surprise on the Swedes to wreck their 100 percent record. The underdogs took the game to Sweden; Pavlidis thought he had scored with a beautiful chip only to be denied by Olsen, but he got his goal late in the game to make it 2-0, making no mistake when substitute Christos Tzolis put a chance on a plate.

Robin Quaison scored a late consolation for Sweden after Forsberg had seen his long range effort parried, but Greece held on for a crucial three points.

So the Greeks have recent success against Sweden to draw their strength from, but the hosts have won eight at home on the run and I’m backing them to make it nine on Tuesday.

Betting Tip

	Sweden vs Greece	1X2 Sweden @ 1.94
	October 13, 02:45 (GMT+8)

At SBOTOP odds of 3.16 the Greeks have an outside chance of doing the double over Sweden, and it is a realistic chance. I think, though, that Sweden’s superior strength in depth and a home crowd will prove too much for the visitors and even a draw at 3.20 will be a step too far for van’t Schip’s men.

Under 2.25 goals at odds of 1.78 is a decent alternative bet, as a 1-0 or 2-0 home win look to be the most likely options.