Sweden face their first real test against Spain

STOCKHOLM, Oct 5 (Reuters) Sweden will be without their most feared striker and their first-choice goalkeeper when they take on Spain in Saturday's Euro 2008 qualifier.

The Swedes, who lead Group F after beating Latvia and Liechtenstein, will face their toughest qualifier so far without Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has refused to play, and keeper Andreas Isaksson, who is injured.

The Inter Milan forward, defender Olof Mellberg and midfielder Christian Wilhelmsson were sent home by Sweden coach Lars Lagerback before last month's qualifier against Liechtenstein for staying out too late ahead of the match.

Ibrahimovic believes the sanction was too harsh.

With Ibrahimovic absent on Saturday and also next Wednesday against Iceland, and Henrik Larsson retired from international football, the attack could be Sweden's weak spot.

Marcus Allback might start up front, but the 33-year-old is doubtful as he struggles with an abdominal muscle injury.

FC Copenhagen's Fredrik Berglund, Ajax Amsterdam's Markus Rosenberg and Toulouse's Johan Elmander are the other alternatives up front, with Rosenberg and Berglund yet to make a real impression in the national team.

Isaksson has struggled with injuries since the World Cup and has yet to play for Premier League club Manchester City, whom he joined from Stade Rennes in August.

Fredrikstad's Rami Shaaban is set to replace Isaksson as he did in Sweden's previous two matches.

SUFFERING SPAIN Spain have suffered a tortuous month waiting for the trip to Sweden after their surprise 3-2 defeat by Northern Ireland at the beginning of September.

That game led to widespread calls for coach Luis Aragones to quit and he obliged by tendering his resignation soon after. But the Spanish Federation rejected his offer and he changed his mind to continue at the helm.

In a bid to turn the page and start afresh, Aragones then dropped his captain Raul from the squad to face Sweden -- the first time the Real Madrid striker had been left out for reasons other than injury in 10 years.

Without Raul, the country's leading all-time goalscorer, the focus up front falls on the joint top scorer in the Primera Liga David Villa of Valencia and Atletico Madrid's Fernando Torres.

In-form Real forward Jose Antonio Reyes was forced to pull out of the squad this week, and has been replaced by debutant Sevilla midfielder Antonio Puerta.

Spain are one of four teams on three points, along with Denmark, Iceland and Northern Ireland, and need a good result to ease the pressure on Aragones, justify his decision to drop Raul, and get their campaign back on track.

Although Spain have the edge with only two defeats from 10 encounters between the countries, they have never won in Sweden.

The last time they met, in a friendly in Gothenburg in June 2000, they drew 1-1.

Probable teams Sweden: Rami Shaaban; Erik Edman, Olof Mellberg, Petter Hansson, Mikael Nilsson; Tobias Linderoth, Fredrik Ljungberg, Christian Wilhelmsson, Kim Kallstrom; Marcus Allback, Markus Rosenberg Spain: Iker Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Carles Puyol, Juanito, Joan Capdevila; Miguel Angel Angulo, David Albelda, Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta; Fernando Torres, David Villa.

REUTERS AB BS1731