Slovenia is currently ranked around 50th in the FIFA World Rankings, placing them in the mid-to-upper tier of European football. However, there remains a clear gap in strength compared to traditional powerhouses such as Germany, France, and Spain. In terms of squad quality, Slovenia has notable stars like Atlético Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak and Benjamin Šeško, who recently transferred to Premier League giants Manchester United. They also boast other solid players in Europe’s top five leagues, such as Bijol and Lovrič.
In recent form, after the Nations League, Slovenia played two friendlies, defeating Luxembourg 1-0 away and Bosnia 2-1 at home. However, these opponents were not particularly strong, making the quality of those wins somewhat limited. Historically, Slovenia has struggled against Sweden, recording 2 draws and 2 losses in their previous four meetings.
Sweden, on the other hand, can be regarded as a near top-tier European side, currently ranked 29th in the FIFA World Rankings. They have qualified for 12 World Cups, finishing runners-up in 1958 on home soil, and taking third place in both 1950 and 1994, making them a representative power of Nordic football. Regarding the squad, Sweden’s latest call-up is led by Arsenal’s new signing Jesper Ceesay, while Alexander Isak—despite transfer issues with Newcastle United—has also been included.
Looking at recent form, Sweden has performed impressively in friendlies, winning 3 of their last 4 matches (currently on a three-game winning streak), including a strong 2-0 away victory against Hungary. Away from home, they have won 3, drawn 1, and lost 1 in their last five matches, scoring two or more goals in four of those games.
Comprehensive Analysis: Sweden’s squad value is 2.8 times greater than Slovenia’s, underlining their superior quality on paper. Both teams have shown positive results in recent friendlies, but Sweden’s victories came against stronger opponents, carrying more weight. Additionally, Sweden has never lost to Slovenia in their previous four meetings, giving them a psychological edge.
Prediction: Sweden to Win or Draw (Double Chance)
