Super trio could give Sweden World Cup to savour

STOCKHOLM, May 24 (Reuters) Sweden will aim to fulfil the attacking potential they showed at Euro 2004 when they start their fourth consecutive major championship at the World Cup.

Although traditionally stronger in defence, the Nordic country boasts a fine attack this time around with world-class strikers Henrik Larsson and Zlatan Ibrahimovic backed up by offensive-minded midfielder Freddie Ljungberg.

The trio, nicknamed the 'Super-Swedes', were instrumental in putting Sweden at the top of their group at the last European Championship, sharing six of the eight goals scored by the country on the way to a quarter-final with the Netherlands.

Despite creating far more chances in that match than the Dutch, Sweden failed to find the net and lost on penalties.

Since then the technically gifted Ibrahimovic has joined Juventus and established himself as a first choice, while the 34-year-old Larsson shows few signs of ageing. He was outstanding when he came on as a second-half substitute for Barcelona in the Champions League final in Paris against Arsenal, helping to create Barca's two goals in their 2-1 win.

He should thoroughly enjoy his swansong spell back in Sweden with Helsingborg after the World Cup.

IMPRESSIVE FORM Complementing Larsson's talents are those of the speedy Ljungberg, who finished on the losing side in Paris. He works well with Larsson for Sweden and has managed to replicate his impressive club form for his country, scoring five goals in seven appearances last year.

One of coach Lars Lagerback's biggest problems will be finding replacements if any of the three gets injured, which did not go unnoticed in a 3-0 friendly loss to Ireland in March.

With Ljungberg absent and Ibrahimovic leaving the pitch early with an injury, Sweden's creativity ran dry while the defence, in particular Southampton's Alexander Ostlund on the right, failed to cope with the Irish attacks. Ostlund has not made the final 23 for Germany.

The defence is a possible weak spot since it will lack top-class internationals if Aston Villa skipper Olof Mellberg or Stade Rennes left back Erik Edman get injured.

However, Sweden boast an excellent goalkeeper in Edman's club team mate Andreas Isaksson, possibly one of the best the country has ever had.

Having qualified for Germany as one of Europe's two best runners-up, after finishing behind Croatia in Group Eight, Sweden have been drawn with England, coached by Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson, Paraguay and Trinidad&Tobago in Group B at the finals.

Sweden have not lost to England in 11 matches since 1968 -- they won the last encounter 1-0 in Gothenburg in 2004 -- but remain wary of the threat of the English squad.

''Playing them in the summer will be harder than ever,'' said Mellberg, who thinks England's current side is better than the one Sweden drew with in the 2002 World Cup group stage.

''I see England as being one of the biggest favourites in this World Cup because of the players they have and the form they are enjoying.

''We're playing them in the last game and hopefully we'll already be qualified by that stage.'' At the last World Cup, Sweden topped the so-called 'Group of Death', which also included Argentina and Nigeria -- but then went out on a golden goal against Senegal in the second round.

They will be hoping to progress further this time.

REUTERS PM BD1014