Spain vs Sweden

This fixture was always going to be the focal point of November’s international break for both Spain and Sweden as they lock horns in a ‘winner-takes-all’ World Cup Qualification Group B showdown.

Spain have bounced back from a 2-1 defeat to Sweden in the reverse fixture, putting together three consecutive World Cup qualifying wins by an aggregate score of 7-0 to reclaim the top spot in Group B. If they avoid defeat here, Spain will qualify for a staggering 12th World Cup finals on the bounce. That prospect is well within the realm of possibility, as ‘La Furia Roja’ have kept Sweden at bay in all three previous competitive H2Hs on home soil (W2, D1), winning two of them by the identical 3-0 scoreline. Though a 2-1 defeat to France in last month’s UEFA Nations League grand final could still be looming in the forefront of the Spaniards’ minds, their unbeaten overall home record in World Cup qualifiers should fill the hosts with confidence.

As for Sweden, a shocking 2-0 away defeat to lowly Georgia last time out put them in a position to chase all three points here in order to secure automatic qualification for next year’s showpiece. A draw is seemingly off the table, though, as none of Sweden’s seven matches in the ongoing World Cup qualifying cycle have ended level (W5, L2). Seeking their second successive World Cup finals appearance for the second time in the 21st century, the ‘Blaguit’ will hope to emulate the same performance that saw them end Spain’s 66-match unbeaten run in the World Cup qualifiers back in September. However, a return of one win from their last seven competitive H2Hs (D2, L3) is an ominous sign, as is their run of back-to-back losses on foreign soil.