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Football: No Respite For Swedish Starlets

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  • Football: No Respite For Swedish Starlets

    NO RESPITE FOR SWEDISH STARLETS
    by Sujay Dutt

    uefa.com
    Thursday 2 July 2009

    Three members of Sweden's UEFA European Under-21 Championship squad
    could be back in action this evening after less than a week off as
    Helsingborgs IF kick off their UEFA Europa League bid against FC MIKA.

    U21 duty Goalkeeper Par Hansson, defender Joel Ekstrand and midfielder
    Andreas Landgren all featured in the squad as the hosts bowed out to
    England in the semi-finals. The club's stadium, the Olympia - venue for
    tonight's opening first qualifying round tie against their Armenian
    opponents - has also been busy, hosting four games including the U21
    semi-final between Italy and eventual winners Germany only last Friday.

    Legendary Larsson However, while the stars of tomorrow have an
    increased profile in Sweden, it is striker Henrik Larsson who continues
    to command the most attention at Helsingborg. Now 37, the man capped
    105 times by Sweden has been struggling with a groin injury in recent
    weeks, but trained on Wednesday and is eager to get involved in the
    new competition.

    Swedish first Fourth in the Allsvenskan last season, Helsingborg
    are the first Swedish side to play in the UEFA Europa League, with
    second-placed IF Elfsborg and third-placed IFK Goteborg entering the
    fray in the second and third qualifying round respectively. Third
    after 12 rounds of the 2009 season, their last game on Sunday saw
    them beat Syrianska FC 3-1 after extra time in a cup game.

    Lower tempo While Larsson was rested against Syrianska, Erik Sundin
    scored twice and looks set to partner the former Feyenoord, Celtic
    FC, FC Barcelona and Manchester United FC striker against MIKA,
    who Helsingborg sporting director Jesper Jansson watched in Armenia
    recently. "Their football is different," he said. "They aren't as
    organised as we are used to and the tempo is lower." Helsingborg's
    U21 stars may appreciate that.
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