Sweden will field the following starting eleven in tonight's playoff semi-final for the World Cup against Ukraine: Kristoffer Nordfeldt – Herman Johansson, Isak Hien, Victor Nilsson Lindelöf, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Gabriel Gudmundsson – Anthony Elanga, Yasin Ayari, Jesper Karlström, Benjamin Nygren – Viktor Gyökeres.
The players gathered in Spain on Monday, and with little time to prepare, Graham Potter chose to lean on what the starting players are used to at their club teams.
“Lie higher up”
"I looked at the defenders we have, and most of them play week after week in a five-back line," Graham Potter told Viaplay.
With five defenders, for example, Anthony Elanga and other attacking players can be in a higher position.
"It means our strikers can be a little higher up. Anthony can play in the same role he does for Newcastle. It gives us the right balance," Potter said.
The big surprise is that Herman Johansson starts as right back.
Johansson was part of the Swedish championship team Mjällby last year, but left for MLS side FC Dallas last winter. Tonight's match will be the 28-year-old's starting debut for the senior national team. He previously came on as a 65th-minute substitute in the World Cup qualifier against Slovenia in November.
"He has impressed during the campaign. A strong player, a strong character," Potter said.
Nordfeldt in goal
Early in the week in Spain, Graham Potter revealed that he is betting on AIK veteran Kristoffer Nordfeldt in goal.
Ukraine–Sweden kicks off at 8:45 p.m. in Valencia. The winner will advance to the qualifying final against either Poland or Albania on Tuesday. If Sweden makes it there, the final will be played at Strawberry Arena in Solna.
Ukraine's starting eleven: Anatoly Trubin - Oleksandr Tymtyk, Ilya Zabarny, Valery Bondar, Vitaly Mykolenko - Ivan Kalyuzhny - Viktor Tsyhankov, Yehor Yarmoljuk, Heorhiy Sudakov, Oleksandr Zubkov - Vladyslav Vanat.
