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.
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.