Ljungberg: Sweden are contenders

Fredrik Ljungberg has warned Sweden have learned from their previous mistakes and are ready to make an impact on the European stage.

The Swedes did not make it past the group stage in the Low Countries four years ago, and although they performed creditably at the last World Cup before being eliminated by Senegal, believe they have a score to settle as they prepare to launch their new campaign.

Tommy Soderberg’s team kick off in Lisbon tomorrow night against Bulgaria, and will then face Italy in Porto on Friday before their all-Scandinavian showdown with Denmark in the same city next Tuesday evening.

While acknowledging their task is a tough one, Arsenal midfielder Ljungberg is confident they have what it takes to progress.

“I think we’ve learned from 2000,” he said. “I think then we trained too hard and were a bit nervous. It was a huge disappointment.

“We don’t want to be big-headed or anything – we’re just going to say we want to qualify from the group. I think we can upset some of the big teams.”

Ljungberg’s optimism has been encouraged by the return to the international fold of departing Celtic striker Henrik Larsson after he reconsidered his decision to retire from international football.

That has come as a huge boost to the Swedes, although the camp is at pains to remind people that the likes of Marcus Allback and Mattias Jonson did the job to good effect in qualification, scoring nine goals between them as they saw off the challenge of Latvia, Poland, Hungary and San Marino.

“I’m very glad he’s come back, but it is very important to point out that Allback and Jonson did a really good job in the qualification,” said Ljungberg.

Ljungberg will go into tomorrow’s game admitting he is still having some problems with the hand fracture he suffered against Manchester United back in March.

A series of screws was used to help repair several broken bones, and although one has since worked its way loose, he is happy to play on.

“One bone still bothers me, but I don’t feel any pain,” he said. “I’ll just have a small cast. It shouldn’t be a problem.”