Sweden recall big names

Zlatan Ibrahimović, Fredrik Ljungberg and Olof Mellberg have returned to the Sweden fold after coach Lars Lagerbäck named his squad for September's back-to-back UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifiers against Latvia and Liechtenstein.

Latvia test
The trio were rested for last week's 3-0 friendly defeat by Germany following their FIFA World Cup exertions but are recalled as the side prepare for a difficult opening to their EURO campaign. "We will have a tough match next Saturday," Lagerbäck said of the game in Riga against a Latvia team who pushed Sweden all the way in UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying, beating them in Solna. With familiar names back, Lagerbäck will hope for more joy on 2 September, before Sweden take on Liechtenstein in Gothenburg four days later.

Sweden squad
Goalkeepers: Andreas Isaksson (Manchester City FC), Rami Shaaban (Fredrikstad FK).

Defenders: Petter Hansson (SC Heerenveen), Mikael Antonsson (Panathinaikos FC), Mikael Nilsson (Panathinaikos FC), Fredrik Stenman (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Karl Svensson (Rangers FC), Erik Edman (Stade Rennais FC), Olof Mellberg (Aston Villa FC).

Midfielders: Niclas Alexandersson (IFK Göteborg), Daniel Andersson (Malmö FF), Fredrik Ljungberg (Arsenal FC), Kim Källström (Olympique Lyonnais), Tobias Linderoth (FC København), Christian Wilhelmsson (FC Nantes Atlantique), Anders Svensson (IF Elfsborg).

Forwards: Marcus Allbäck (FC København), Markus Rosenberg (AFC Ajax), Zlatan Ibrahimović (FC Internazionale Milano), Johan Elmander (Toulouse FC).