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Exclusive – Ex Bologna striker Kennet Andersson: “Sweden will beat Italy”

Exclusive – Ex Bologna striker Kennet Andersson: “Sweden will beat Italy”

  • Nima Tavallaey Roodsari
Former Swedish international and Bologna striker Kennet Andersson is far from happy with the World Cup qualifying play-off draw that will see Sweden and Italy face off in November. 

Speaking in an exclusive interview with CalcioMercato.com the former Rossoblu striker said: “As soon as I saw the draw I thought 'damn it'. Not because I think Sweden are inferior to Italy but because I hoped to see both teams in Russia next summer.”

“It is a tough draw, one of the toughest opponents possible with perhaps Croatia being the toughest opposition Sweden could have faced but it is not an impossible challenge. Sure, Italy have been criticized recently but they have a good team with quality players and are as Italy always have been a very tactically disciplined side” Andersson explained, who also represented Bari and Lazio during his five and a half years in Italy playing in the Serie A. 

“In the first match Italy will be looking to get a draw in order to win the tie in the return leg at home at the San Siro. I don't expect to see an attacking Italy side in Stockholm, but more a side that wants to control proceedings and maybe hurt Sweden on the counter attack. At home Italy are very strong so the key is to win the first fixture at home because it will be very difficult if Sweden find themselves in a position where they have to win at the San Siro.”

Are you prepared to make a prediction over both legs?

“I think Sweden will win the first leg 1-0 at Friends Arena and squeeze out a 0-0 draw away.”

Kennet Andersson represented Sweden 83 times scoring 31 goals, 5 of which came during their 1994 World Cup campaing in the USA where they won the bronze medal.