Croatia vs Sweden Nations League preview: where to watch, team news

Croatia face Sweden in UEFA Nations League Group 3 in Zagreb on Sunday 11 October at 18:00 CET.

Where to watch the game on TV

Fans can find their local UEFA Nations League broadcast partner(s) here

As they stand

• FIFA World Cup runners-up in 2018, Croatia lost both of their opening Group A3 fixtures – 4-1 in Portugal and 4-2 in France – and have conceded the most goals of any side in this season’s UEFA Nations League.

• Sweden have no points and are yet to score in Group A3; they went down 1-0 at home to France and then lost 2-0 against Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo scoring his 100th and 101st international goals in Solna.

Previous meetings

• Croatia won the teams' first three meetings but the tide turned in their most recent encounter, Sweden prevailing 3-1 in a February 2012 friendly fixture in Zagreb.

• The sides' only previous competitive matches were a pair of 1-0 wins for Croatia in 2006 World Cup qualifying, in Gothenburg in September 2004 and in Zagreb in October 2005.

What the coaches say

Zlatko Dalić, Croatia coach: "We have two games in three days, which due to the conditions we will not be able to play with the same team and we will look for the best solutions. I have a combination in my head of who will start if Andrej [Kramarić] can't. [Sweden have] quality outlets in Berg and Forsberg. They are solid and aggressive. They have strength and energy, but like us, they lost two games, only theirs were at home, and ours away. This match is very important for us because it probably decides who will stay in the elite group, and that is our goal."

Janne Andersson, Sweden coach: "It's great that Viktor [Claesson] is finally back from injury. He has done very well at Krasnodar and it will be good to have him in the national team again. If we play with Alexander Isak, he is a very skilful football player who fits into how we play. He is quite similar to Robin [Quaison], a forward who should both be able to hold up the ball for us but also threaten in behind."

Next up

14/10: Croatia vs France
14/10: Portugal vs Sweden