Swedes set Dutch date
Monday, January 26, 2004
Article summary
Sweden will play the Netherlands on 18 August in the third of three friendlies to celebrate the SvFF's centenary.
Article body
Sweden will play the Netherlands on 18 August in the third of three international friendlies organised to celebrate the centenary of the Swedish Football Association (SvFF).
Matches arranged
An SvFF statement released on Monday said Sweden would play the Dutch in addition to the match against England in Gothenburg on 31 March, while the country's women's team will meet neighbours Norway on 24 July.
'A huge thing'
National co-coach Lars Lagerbäck said of the Netherlands match, which will precede Sweden's opening 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier: "This game is a huge thing and we'll benefit from it." The two countries have met on 18 previous occasions, with Sweden winning seven times to the Netherlands' eight.
EURO 2004™ preparations
The match against England, meanwhile, will form part of Sweden's preparations for UEFA EURO 2004™, where they have been drawn in Group C with Italy, Denmark and Bulgaria. The finals start in Portugal on 12 June.
