Slovenia vs Sweden prediction: EUROPE: World Championship – Qualification betting tips on match 2025-09-04 18:45.
[p]Slovenia and Sweden could be jostling for second spot in Group B of UEFA’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying if group favourites Switzerland top the standings, making this opening tie crucial.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Slovenia recently rediscovered the joys of major tournaments when participating in their first European Championship since 2000 last year, and they’ll be similarly determined to end a wait for a World Cup finals appearance that dates back to 2010. Entering a group with no top-ten superpowers and the expansion of European qualification slots from 13 to 16 will be a great boost to their chances of doing so, whilst the Slovenians should be boosted by having maintained their UEFA Nations League B position back in March. That two-legged win over Slovakia forms part of the five-game unbeaten run that they bring into September (W3, D2). [/p]
[p]Sweden return to action after winning friendlies against both Hungary (2-0) and Algeria (4-3) in June, continuing an excellent stretch of results over the last 12 months under Jon Dahl Tomasson. They’ll be joining Slovenia in the next League B of the Nations League after coasting to promotion with five wins from six matches, the kind of form they’ll be keen to carry forward into these qualifiers given only the group winner qualifies automatically for next summer’s showpiece event. [/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]Slovenia have never defeated Sweden from four attempts (D2, L2) with the most recent H2Hs taking place when they shared a Nations League group in 2022/23. Slovenia lost the home game 2-0 on that occasion. [/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Slovenia’s last five matches were either drawn or settled by a one-goal margin. [/p]
[p]Slovenia led at half-time in only one of their last eight matches. [/p]
[p]Twelve of Sweden’s 15 games since the start of 2024 produced over 2.5 goals.[/p]
[p]Sweden conceded a first-half goal in only one of their last eight wins. [/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Benjamin Šeško opened the scoring in a 2022 draw with Sweden, part of a run where seven of his last ten international scoring appearances saw him open the scoring. Viktor Gyökeres scored an incredible four goals in his last international and has closed the scoring on three of his last four scoring appearances for Sweden.[/p]
[p]Jon Gorenc Stanković will be missing after picking up an injury in the Graz derby. For Sweden, Dejan Kulusevski is out injured.[/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]With Alexander Isak unlikely to feature for any great length of time due to a lack of match fitness, backing Viktor Gyökeres in the anytime scorer market appears to be excellent value.[/p]
[p][i]Author: Aaron Murphy[/i][/p]