Sweden turn to Wahlstedt

By Jan Juhlin

Sweden have handed Helsingborgs IF defender Erik Wahlstedt a surprise call-up for next week's friendly against UEFA EURO 2004™ hosts Portugal.

'Interesting alternative'
The 25-year-old's only international appearance to date came as a striker in a 1-0 friendly defeat in the United States back in January 1998. However, Wahlstedt has excelled at club level since being moved to right-back during his time in Denmark with Esbjerg fB. His impressive form has continued since he returned to his old club Helsingborg in January this year. "Erik is an interesting alternative and he has developed during his time in Denmark," said Sweden co-coach Lars Lagerbäck.

Larsson missing
While Wahlstedt is part of the squad for the match in Coimbra, Celtic FC striker Henrik Larsson is still absent as he ponders the offer to come out of retirement for EURO 2004™. Lagerbäck said: "Nothing has changed. Henrik has said no, and as it is that's the way it will stay. We'll name our squad for Portugal on 6 May, and I suppose that's the deadline day even for Henrik."

Skoog chance
Without Larsson, Malmö FF striker Niklas Skoog will get another chance to prove his worth. Regardless, the Allsvenksan's top scorer from 2003 will almost certainly be on the plane this summer should Bröndby IF's Mattias Jonsson fail to recover from injury. Lagerbäck said: "Don't think that this is the final squad. There are a number of players that are still in the frame."

Still hopeful
Other names in with a shout of making the final 23-man pool are Djurgården IF's Andreas Johansson, Anders Andersson of CF Os Belenenses and RSC Anderlecht's Christian Wilhelmsson. However, Dutch-based duo Stefan Selakovic and Petter Hansson of SC Herenveen have been excluded.

Sweden squad
Isaksson, Kihlstedt, Hedman, M Svensson, Mellberg, Lucic, Edman, Mjällby, Jakobsson, Wahlstedt, Östlund, A Svensson, Ljungberg, Wilhelmsson, Nilsson, Källström, Andersson, Linderoth, Johansson, Ibrahimovic, Allbäck, Skoog, Elmander.