NO RESPITE FOR SWEDISH STARLETS
by Sujay Dutt
uefa.com
Thursday 2 July 2009
Three members of Sweden’s UEFA European Under-21 Championship squad
could be back in action this evening after less than a week off as
Helsingborgs IF kick off their UEFA Europa League bid against FC MIKA.
U21 duty Goalkeeper Par Hansson, defender Joel Ekstrand and midfielder
Andreas Landgren all featured in the squad as the hosts bowed out to
England in the semi-finals. The club’s stadium, the Olympia – venue for
tonight’s opening first qualifying round tie against their Armenian
opponents – has also been busy, hosting four games including the U21
semi-final between Italy and eventual winners Germany only last Friday.
Legendary Larsson However, while the stars of tomorrow have an
increased profile in Sweden, it is striker Henrik Larsson who continues
to command the most attention at Helsingborg. Now 37, the man capped
105 times by Sweden has been struggling with a groin injury in recent
weeks, but trained on Wednesday and is eager to get involved in the
new competition.
Swedish first Fourth in the Allsvenskan last season, Helsingborg
are the first Swedish side to play in the UEFA Europa League, with
second-placed IF Elfsborg and third-placed IFK Goteborg entering the
fray in the second and third qualifying round respectively. Third
after 12 rounds of the 2009 season, their last game on Sunday saw
them beat Syrianska FC 3-1 after extra time in a cup game.
Lower tempo While Larsson was rested against Syrianska, Erik Sundin
scored twice and looks set to partner the former Feyenoord, Celtic
FC, FC Barcelona and Manchester United FC striker against MIKA,
who Helsingborg sporting director Jesper Jansson watched in Armenia
recently. "Their football is different," he said. "They aren’t as
organised as we are used to and the tempo is lower." Helsingborg’s
U21 stars may appreciate that.