Levein names Scotland lineup for Sweden friendly

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Allan McGregor will start in goals as Scotland play their final friendly match before the Euro 2012 qualifiers. Pic: ©SNS Group

Craig Levein has sprung a surprise or two in naming his team to face Sweden in an international friendly. The Scotland boss, who was forced into a number of changes after missing seven regulars and having several players carrying knocks, will field a 4-5-1 formation.

As expected, Allan McGregor will end his international exile by playing in goals, with first choice Craig Gordon unavailable because of a broken arm. Playing in front of the Rangers keeper will be a relatively inexperienced back four, which features three changes from the 1-0 win over Czech Republic in March.

Kirk Broadfoot will start at right-back, with a central defensive pairing of Garry Kenneth and Christophe Berra. Lee Wallace, who played the full 90 minutes in the Hampden friendly in Levein’s first game in charge, is the only player retained.

In midfield, Barry Robson, Darren Fletcher, Kevin Thomson, Charlie Adam and James McFadden will form the midfield five. Injured pair Scott Brown and Graham Dorrans drop out, with Adam and McFadden earning their first starts under Levein.

Steven Fletcher will play up front, with Kenny Miller struggling with shin splints. Kris Boyd will take a seat on the bench, with the Wolves striker preferred to make his first start under the new boss.

Sweden will line up with a 4-3-2-1 formation, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic playing as the front man on his return to the side, having come out of international retirement.

Scotland team to face Sweden on August 11: Allan McGregor; Kirk Broadfoot, Garry Kenneth, Christophe Berra, Lee Wallace; Barry Robson, Darren Fletcher, Kevin Thomson, Charlie Adam, James McFadden; Steven Fletcher.

Sweden team: Andreas Isaksson; Mikael Lustig, Olof Mellberg, Daniel Majstorovic, Behrang Safari; Anders Svensson Pontus Wernbloom; Johan Elmander, Ola Toivonen, Emir Bajrami; Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

 

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FULL-TIME Sweden 3-0 Scotland

Zlatan Ibrahimovic came out of international retirement to inspire Sweden as Craig Levein suffered his first defeat as Scotland coach.

It took the Barcelona striker just three minutes to sweep the ball home from close range as a young defence depleted by injuries was exposed.

Emir Bajrami scored on the rebound six minutes before the break after first being denied by Allan McGregor.

And an Ibrahimovic cross was headed in by Ola Toivonen after 55 minutes.

Levein, forced to do without six of his original squad in his second friendly in charge, had gone for an inexperienced back four, with Garry Kenneth being handed his first cap in the heart of the defence alongside Christophe Berra.

And they were immediately on the back foot as Pontus Wermbloom made a fine run from midfield into the penalty box before playing the ball low for the similarly unmarked Ibrahimovic to side-foot past McGregor from eight yards.

It was a dream return for the striker, who had been made captain by new coach Erik Hamren after being persuaded to end a short spell in international retirement following Sweden's failure to qualify for this summer's World Cup finals.

McGregor, making his return to the Scotland fold after his ban for a late-night drinking session under previous manager George Burley, prevented further damage with a fine double save.

The goalkeeper could perhaps have done better than parry man-of-the-match Toivonen's drive from the edge of the area but did superbly to block Johan Elmander's close-range attempt to find the net from the rebound.

Scotland's defence survived some more nervous moments before creating their own first chance after 29 minutes as they began to enjoy more possession.

James McFadden's cross was fumbled by Andreas Isaksson, but the goalkeeper recovered to smother from point-blank range Charlie Adam's attempt to flick the ball home.

However, the Swedes were exploiting space behind full-backs Lee Wallace and Kirk Broadfoot, who was left foundering as Bajrami increased the home side's lead after 39 minutes.

The Twente midfielder's first attempt from 12 yards was blocked by McGregor, but the goalkeeper had no chance when Bajrami steered his second attempt into the far corner.

Scotland started to enjoy a bit more territorial possession after the break, but a slack pass gave Olof Mellberg the chance to send a half-volley curling against the top of the crossbar from 25 yards.

Sweden extended their lead after 55 minutes, when Ibrahimovic crossed from the by-line and PSV Eindhoven forward Toivonen rose above Berra to head into the net from 10 yards, the last act by the captain before heading off injured.

Scotland finally forced a save from Isaksson after 66 minutes when substitute Kris Boyd pounced on a fine chip from Darren Fletcher only for his shot on the turn to strike the goalkeeper's shin.

There was still time for McGregor to claw away a close-range effort from the impressive Toivonen as Levein was given much to think about ahead of next month's start to the European Championship qualifying campaign.