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| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
ENGLAND  Hart Walker, Terry, Cahill, Cole Lampard, Rodwell, Barry Walcott, Zamora, Sturridge | SWEDEN  Wiland Mellberg, Safari, Olsson, Lustig Bajrami, Svensson, Kallstrom, Larsson Ibrahimovic, Elmander |
Fabio Capello has already confirmed that Daniel Sturridge will make his debut on Tuesday, whilst Kyle Walker is expected to make his first start in an England shirt in place of Glen Johnson at right-back. John Terry will retain the armband when he returns to the centre of defence alongside Gary Cahill, and Bobby Zamora is expected to lead the line up front in place of Darren Bent.
Sweden are expected to name an unchanged side after their weekend defeat to Denmark. Star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was highly critical of his side's showing on Friday night, is expected to retain his place up front alongisde former Bolton forward Johan Elmander.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- England and Sweden have played each other 21 times, with both managing six victories each.
- The two sides have not met at Wembley since 1988, when they drew 0-0.
- Captain John Terry (pictured right) played in both of England’s last two meetings with Sweden – a 1-0 friendly defeat in 2004, and a 2-2 draw during the group stages of World Cup 2006.
- Aside from the 1-0 Sweden victory in 2004, all of the last five matches between the sides have ended in a draw.
- More than a quarter of Sweden’s goals in the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign have been scored in the final 15 minutes of their matches.
- At the same time, in friendly matches this season, England have failed to score at all beyond the 75th minute.
- Sweden have only lost three of their last 13 away matches – the latest a 2-0 defeat to Denmark on Friday.
- England, meanwhile, have managed just four wins in their last 10 matches on home soil, with Saturday’s victory over Spain only their second home win in a year.
- Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic – the top scorers in Euro 2012 qualifying for their respective nations – have failed to find the net in this year’s friendly matches.
- England and Sweden’s record goalscorers are Bobby Charlton and Sven Rydell, both of whom managed 49 international goals. Rydell has the superior strike ratio, however: he played just 43 times for Sweden, whilst Charlton scored his tally in 109 games for the Three Lions.
Prediction
England's confidence got a well-needed boost after their surprise win over Spain on Saturday, and Capello will be hoping that the players brought in to the starting lineup on Tuesday will display the same character as those who featured against the World Champions. Sweden will be no pushovers, especially as they look to bounce back from their disappointing defeat to Denmark on Friday, but expect this latest new-look England to edge the encounter.
Editor's Prediction
England 3-1 Sweden 
