STOCKHOLM, Sweden — Sweden will be without forward Johan Elmander for its upcoming World Cup qualifier against Ireland, while Celtic defender Mikael Lustig is in the squad after recovering from an injury.
Elmander has been struggling with injuries and was ruled out of Galatasaray’s Champions League match against Schalke on Tuesday, and was left out of coach Erik Hamren’s squad for the March 22 game.
Lustig missed Celtic’s Champions League game against Juventus last week but is hoping to be fit to play.
The team includes one newcomer as Hamren called up Erkan Zengin, a midfielder who plays for Turkish club Eskisehirspor and impressed in a recent game against Galatasaray.
Young Boys forward Alexander Gerndt is also back in the team following a suspension after being found guilty of assaulting his ex-wife. Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is expected to spearhead Sweden’s attack.
Sweden is second in Group C behind Germany, with Ireland a point behind in third place.