Sweden, which secured its spot in the League B at the next edition on Tuesday, could afford to take it easy in their last UEFA Nations League group match against Azerbaijan in Solna.
While the Blagult clinched the League C Group 1 with ease, the Azeri side of the team is likely to sum up the tournament in the last position and with a drop to the next higher tier.
Sweden, who have been ruthless to their third tier counterparts this season, clinched promotion on Saturday evening after dispatching the challenge of second placed Slovakia by a margin of 2-1 at home.
As forSweden’s front line both Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres found the back of the net again, the latter enhanced his growing reputation as one of world football’s rising stars becoming the 2024-25 Nations League’s co-top scorer with five goals.
Given such a wealth of firing power, it is scarcely surprising that Jon Dahl Tomasson’s side have secured their place at the head of Group H with only one more fixture still to be played in European Championship section, and Denmark could rest on their laurels until the World Cup qualifying phase begins next year.
Sweden would have even won all matches if they were able to forge a two-goal margin against Slovakia who drew the blood in Bratislava last month after a spirited fight back.
This saw its onset in in a 3-1 rout of Azerbaijan back in September where Isak and Gyokeres both scored in Baku to name but a few and now Tomasson’s men must put the cherry on top by hosting the same side.
Azerbaijan are again in League C for the third time in a row, and currently sit in the last position in a competitive group having gained only one point in five of its matches.
While Azerbaijan has been suffer from injuries this month with Mahmudov and Ahmadzada among the withdrawals.
The Azeris may be headed for relegation to League D, the lowest division in Europe, after failing to defeat Estonia at Qabala, where they were held to a goalless draw despite controlling the ball.
They currently sit at the bottom of that four-nation mini-league, and two of the teams who finish last in their League C groups—those with the lowest records after all six games—will be demoted.
It will be difficult to break that drought in Sweden because veteran coach Fernando Santos, who was hired earlier this year, has failed to improve Azerbaijan's results. Their most recent victory came five months ago against Kazakhstan.
Due to injuries, Sweden's lineup is expected to vary in a number of ways. Victor Lindelof, a defender for Manchester United, was substituted out of Saturday's victory over Slovakia and may be sidelined for some time.
Jon Dahl Tomasson can afford to rotate his team because promotion is already certain, therefore the hosts' strong attacking trio of Dejan Kulusevski, Viktor Gyokeres, and Alexander Isak might be split up.
After several withdrawals, including Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga, Tomasson selected Isaac Lidberg, who has scored 10 goals in 12 club games this season. If the Blagult's manager chooses to rest some tired legs, the Darmstadt striker might be included in the squad with Lucas Bergvall of Tottenham Hotspur.
