Added spice as Sweden meet Denmark in Scandinavian derby

Danskjavlar is an affectionate Swedish expression that can best be translated as ‘Bloody Danes’. It was used quite a lot after last month’s qualifying draw pitted Sweden against Denmark in the Euro 2016 play-off, with the first leg tonight in Stockholm.

Sweden have not beaten Denmark in a competitive match since 1992, and the memory of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, when Denmark won 1-0 home and away (not helped by Kim Kallstrom missing a penalty in Stockholm) to reach South Africa, gives the visitors a mental edge. The Sweden coach at the time, Lars Lagerback, resigned the day after the second defeat.

Current boss Erik Hamren is in a similar situation. In 2014, the only teams Sweden beat were Liechtenstein and Estonia; and after the September results against Russia (0-1) and Austria (losing 4-1, their worst home result since the 1958 World Cup final), there were calls for Hamren to stand down with immediate effect, and bring in a new face for the play-offs.