Sweden VS Colombia Match Prediction

There have only ever been two meetings between the senior squads of Sweden and Colombia and both of those games ended in a draw. In 1991, the Swedes collected a 2-2 draw and when Colombia again headed to Scandinavia four years later, the match ended in a stalemate 0-0.

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Sweden v Colombia: Prediction

Colombia are expected to have a strong run in the competition and if they are to make it through the group stages into the next phase they will want to get points on the board. Sweden look to lack goals - especially after Larsson was withdrawn from the squad - and it is hard to see them pulling off what would be a shock result here. Instead, Colombia are favoured to take the points.

Sweden v Colombia: Betting Tips

Outsiders Sweden can be backed at a price of 16/5 here but even large odds like those are not tempting for a team likely to find the standard of football at the Games above their abilities. Even the odds of 5/2 on a draw do not particularly appeal, with Colombia's price of 4/5 to get a winning start and record their first three points of the Olympic Games looks to be the most wise selection.

Sweden are among the outsiders for the gold medal, with the loss of Jordan Larsson - son of goalscoring legend Henrik - pulling out of the squad to damage their hopes further. There had been suggestions Zlatan Ibrahimovic would play at the Olympics but he instead retired from international football after Euro 2016 and joined Premier League side Manchester United.

Astrit Ajdarevic, Abdul Khalili and Alexander Milosevic are the three overage players in the Sweden squad, while Groningen midfielder Simon Tibbling is one to watch out for.

Sweden likely XI:

Linde, Lundqvist, Milosevic, Nilsson, Konate, Ajdarevic, Tibbling, Khalili, Sema, Quaison, Ishak.

Dark horses Colombia will want to get off to a strong start and the South American outfit have the advantage of knowing the conditions in Brazil much better than the Swedish team.

Overage players Dorlan Pabon, William Tesillo and Teofilo Gutierrez are all expected to be in the Colombia squad for this opening match, while Andres Roa of Deportivo Cali has lots of potential.

Colombia likely XI:

Bonilla, Aguilar, Balanta, Borja, Tesillo, Pabon, Machado, Barrios, Gutierrez, Roa, Perez.

Colombia are not particularly fancied to do well at the Olympic Games, but they are certainly capable of making it through to the semi-finals if they get off to a good start and build momentum through the tournament. Sweden\'s squad looks short of attacking quality, although they will likely be tough to break down. Colombia\'s stars like Gutierrez and Pabon should be able to break the Swedes down, however, so they are tipped to win this game narrowly.

Both of the previous meetings between Sweden and Colombia ended in a draw.