TAMMERFORS. After two days without matches, it is time for Tre Kronor to play their fourth group stage match in this year’s tournament. On Thursday, Sweden meets Hungary, who are newcomers to the A-WC.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of that match:
When? The match between Tre Kronor and Hungary starts at 15.20 on Thursday afternoon 18 May. Where? The match is played in the Nokia Arena in Tampere, where Tre Kronor plays all of its group stage matches in the World Cup.
Sweden has started the WC with three victories Three Kronor–Germany 1–0 Three Crowns–Austria 5–0 Tre Kronor–Finland 2–1 after penalties
Met in the WC 1935 Hungary and Sweden have previously only met on a single occasion in WC history. In 1935, the two countries played against each other when the World Cup was decided in Davos. That time Tre Kronor won 3–0.
Sweden are also big favorites this time.
Long-awaited victory Hungary are newcomers to the A-VM. The last time they were there was in 2016. Hungary started this year’s World Cup tournament with a 1–3 loss to Denmark and a 1–7 loss to the USA. On Monday night, however, they managed to win 3–2 over France after extra time.
It was Hungary’s second win in an A World Cup since World War II, the first coming against Belarus in 2016, and the loud Hungarian crowd in Tampere celebrated their players after the victory. When the fans started singing the national anthem, the players also joined in, and the joint celebration was a great moment.
New Swedish back pair? Only on the match day will the Swedish team management make a decision on whether Toronto defender Timothy Liljegren, who arrived in Tampere on Wednesday, will play against Hungary. If there is a game, it is highly likely that he will form a back pair with Rasmus Sandin. The two previously played together in Toronto before Sandin was traded to Washington.
– It is absolutely a conceivable plan, says Tre Kronor’s union captain Sam Hallam.
Raymond and Carlsson get new company There are many indications that Tre Kronor is making some changes in the chain formations in the match against Hungary, at least if you are to interpret how it looked in Wednesday’s training. Lucas Raymond and Leo Carlsson trained together with Jonatan Berggren, which indicates that the three form the new first chain. Alexander Nylander, who has previously been the third link in that chain, can start the match as an extra forward.
