Sweden vs Switzerland Predictions

• Sweden have taken only one point from their opening two World Cup qualifiers
• Switzerland sit top of the group with two wins from two
• The Swiss have scored multiple goals in their last five games while Sweden have conceded two or more in their last three

Struggling Swedes left playing catch-up 

Sweden really need to kickstart their World Cup qualifying campaign before it’s too late, but Friday’s home clash with an in-form Swiss squad looks like being a bridge too far for Jon Dahl Tomasson’s side.

The Swedes sit third in the group, already five points behind Switzerland after only two games. Tomasson’s side are under pressure after a disappointing run of results – drawing 2-2 away to Slovenia and suffering a defeat to Kosovo in Pristina last month.

They led twice in Ljulbljana and couldn’t hold on and there should be concerns about their ability to stop goals after the team conceded three to Algeria in a summer friendly too. They won that game 4-3, but this is serious stuff now and some things you cannot just flick back on like a switch.

Swiss side running like clockwork

The Swiss look altogether a much more cohesive and determined group. Murat Yakin has a core of senior players running through the spine of the team and several improving youngsters on the fringes.

They dismissed the same Slovenia side that had drawn with Sweden 3-0 after humbling Kosovo 4-0 in their opening qualifier. Back in the summer, the Swiss destroyed Muaricio Pochettino’s World Cup co-hosts 4-0 in Nashville on the back of a 4-2 win over Mexico, so goals are not a problem for this side.

Tomasson has switched goalkeepers to try and cure his side’s defensive ailments, but Stoke’s Viktor Johansson may not be able to stop this Swiss team in their tracks. Back an away win in Stockholm with the Swiss, who have kept three consecutive clean sheets, capable of shutting out a vaunted Swedish strikeforce that failed to fire against Kosovo.