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SWEDEN COACH Janne Andersson named Henrik Larsson’s son Jordan in his squad for the European Championships 2020 on Tuesday, with veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic excluded from the tournament with a knee injury.
Spartak Moscow’s forward Jordan Larsson, 23, has only made five international appearances but joins youngsters Dejan Kulusevski and Alexander Isak in the 26-man squad.
“I think we have a good mix in the squad,” says Andersson. “We have several experienced players who have some competitions in the bank and a lot of hungry young players who will play their first tournament.
“That balance is important, I think.”
The 39-year-old Ibrahimovic returned to the Swedish team for two World Cup qualifiers in March, after retiring from international football after the European Championships in 2016.
Sweden opens its European Championship campaign against Spain in Seville on June 14, before another group E matches against Slovakia and Poland in St. Petersburg.
“He (Ibrahimovic) was very disappointed, and so was I,” says Andersson. “There were two very disappointed people talking to each other. He wished us luck and I wished him good luck in his recovery. ”
Jordan Larsson, whose father netted 37 times for Sweden, has scored 15 goals in 29 league games for Spartak this season, while Isak has scored 16 La Liga goals for Real Sociedad.
Andersson hopes that his side can build on their run to the World Cup quarter-finals 2018, where they were knocked out by England.
Sweden’s squad:
Goalkeepers (3):
Robin Olsen (Everton / ENG), Karl-Johan Johnsson (FC Köpenhamn / DEN), Kristoffer Nordfeldt (Genclerbirligi / TUR)
Defender (9):
Ludwig Augustinsson (Werder Bremen / GER), Andreas Granqvist (Helsingborgs), Victor Lindelof (Manchester United / ENG), Filip Helander (Rangers / SCO), Emil Krafth (Newcastle / ENG), Mikael Lustig (AIK), Pontus Jansson (Brentford ) / ENG), Marcus Danielson (Dalian Pro / CHN), Martin Olsson (BK Hacken)
Midfielder (9):
Jens Cajuste (FC Midtjylland / DEN), Gustav Svensson (Guangzhou / CHN), Viktor Claesson (Krasnodar / RUS), Albin Ekdal (Sampdoria / ITA), Emil Forsberg (RB Leipzig / GER), Sebastian Larsson (AIK), Kristoffer Olsson (Krasnodar / RUS), Ken Sema (Watford / ENG), Mattias Svanberg (Bologna / ITA)
Forward (5):
Marcus Berg (IFK Goteborg), Dejan Kulusevski (Juventus / ITA), Robin Quaison (Mainz / GER), Alexander Isak (Real Sociedad / ESP), Jordan Larsson (Spartak Moscow)
Coach: Janne Andersson
Source: sn.dk
