EURO2024Q: Lindelof on a mission to stop Lukaku as Sweden aim for a hundred-to-one-shot
Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 16.10.23. | 10:05
Swedes need victories in all three remaining games, but also a miracle - Austria to drop points against minnows like Azerbaijan and Estonia
Tiny bits of hope are all that remain for Sweden in the Euro 2024 Qualifiers, as they must win at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on Monday night against the group leaders. The very same team that tore them into pieces in the return leg on the opening day (3-0). That result set the tone for both teams in their qualifying bids, with Belgium being unbeaten in their six games so far and are the favourites to finish top.
On the other hand, Victor Lindelof's side have picked up just six points from their opening five games - showcasing a genuine inconsistency - leaving them seven points adrift of Austria in the second spot. Therefore, Sweden are on the verge of missing out on yet another major tournament after the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
They will need not only a win against Belgium but also against Estonia and Azerbaijan in their final two games. However, even a victory against Belgium might not be enough for the Swedes unless Austria slips up against the very same Azerbaijan (and Estonia in the next round).
Got memory on Facebook of an article I seen back in 2013 from a Belgian magazine in 2002 about the future stars of Belgium. The day I saw this in 2013 from the 15 only Kompany wasn’t in the Belgium squad that night. Lukaku would have been 9, KdB just 11 when this was published😳 pic.twitter.com/vd4e86Q07L
— Libero FPL (@LiberoFpl) October 16, 2023
When it comes to Belgium, their qualification is guaranteed, but as things stand, Domenico Tedesco will line up his best available squad, led by reborn Romelu Lukaku.
EURO 2024 QUALIFIERS
Monday
19.00: (10.0) Azerbaijan (5.10) Austria (1.37)
21.45: (1.67) Belgium (3.90) Sweden (5.90)
21.45: (6.75) B&H (4.20) Portugal (1.50)
21.45: (40.0) Gibraltar (13.0) R.Ireland (1.05)
21.45: (3.80) Luxembourg (3.35) Slovakia (2.15)
21.45: (4.40) Greece (3.50) Netherlands (1.95)
21.45: (1.05) Iceland (14.0) Liechtenstein (35.0)
***odds are subject to change***
