Sweden

Group F: Sweden – World Cup Betting Odds & Tips

Sweden will be playing at their first World Cup for 12 years this summer and they have a happy knack of emerging from their group once they reach the finals.

Indeed, the Scandinavians have reached the knockout stages of the last three World Cups they have qualified for, a run that includes their third-place finish when the finals were held in the United States in 1994.

Janne Andersson’s current side have already had to withstand a stern test of their credentials in reaching the finals this year, as they finished second in their qualifying group behind France before edging out four-time winners Italy in the play-offs.

The Swede’s will need to show all their resolve once again during the finals, as they have been drawn in a group that contains current world champions Germany, as well as Mexico and South Korea. With Zlatan Ibrahimovic now retired from international football, Sweden’s main attacking hopes are likely to rest on the shoulders of Marcus Berg, who netted eight goals during qualifying.

However, if Sweden are to progress through to the knockout stages, then it is likely to be due to the defensive prowess that saw them concede just nine goals during qualifying, a run that included back-to-back clean sheets against the Italians.

Sweden did reach the final of the World Cup when it was played on home soil back in 1958, but at 81.00 they would have to be considered as an outside bet to claim their maiden world title this year.