The Swedes ended the night as they started with a 0-0 draw against Portugal. The result will please Lagerback more than Carlos Queiroz.
Sweden had to deal with attack after attack from Portugal with Cristiano Ronaldo missing a number of chances. But Sweden, without Zlatan Ibrahimovic contained the attacks and fustrated the Portuguese.
Sweden now 4th with 6 points but do have a game in hand over Portugal and Hungary.
All leagues around the world have players who are a step above others and will be in the market!
This is my list of top players for 2009. So if you want you can e-mail me your seletions? my e-mail in legendconor@yahoo.com
10. Eric Bassombeng (Örebro SK) The Cameroonian is a pace machine! His speed and ability to finish off chances were key to Örebro staying up last year and his services will be needed again this season. Signed form Cotton Sport in 2007.
9. Daryl Smylie (Kalmar) Northern Ireland native but after suffering relegation with Ljungskile last year Daryl faces the tough task of replacing Viktor Elm at champions Kalmar this year. A massive leap form relegation to a champion team?
8. Henrik Larsson (Helsingborgs) 2009 might well be his final year. The legend has been with Helsingborgs since 2006 and was linked with moves away but he stayed and his experience will be vital as Helsingborgs seek European football next year.
7. Agon Mehmeti (Malmö) Unleashed last year and impressed the Malmö fans who will want success this year. Of Kosovo desent the U-21 international could well move on come July but until then he will grace the pitches of Sweden.
6. Nordin Gerzic (Örebro) The Bosnian was outstanding last year despite speculation of him joining AIK. The ponytailed magician will be a key player this year and possibly may move.
5. Ivan Óbolo (AIK) The Argentinian striker has proved he is a player of quality with AIK. But AIK were poor last year and the Argentinian has a point to prove in what could be a good year for both him and the club.
4. Markus Allbäck (Örgryte) The Swedish goal scorer is back in the Allsvenskan after years away abroad. Joined the club last summer form FC Kobenhavn and will be the answer to Örgryte's relegation battle.
3. Robin Söder (IFK Göteborg) He is a talented striker and he can be useful when required. A few injuries last year hindered his season but it is a new season and has the chance to reaveal himself. And with the U-21 championship in June coming up 2009 will be a special year.
2. Charlie Davies (Hammarby) The American had a good year in 2008 in what was a poor year for Hammarby. 2009 he will need to be on song as the Stockholm giants aim for silverware. His desire to play in England or Spain will depend on how well he plays this season.
1. Anselmo (Halmstads) Not everyone's player but he did come in with 15 goals last year. His experience in Brazil and Portugal will help Halmstads who had an off year in 2008. Candiadate for top scorer come November?
It's comming up to the kick-off to the 2009 Allsvenskan season. The Allsvenskan resumes on Saturday 4th April 2009 and after the longest pre-season in the world we are glad to get the ball rolling.
BK Häcken host Malmö in what should be a good game for both sides. Malmö desperatly underachieved last year but did unearth a player by the name of Agon Mehmeti a player who should be on the watch list this year.
Saturday's final game is proberly the game of the round with last year's runner's up Elfsborg hosting Hammarby. Elfsborg aiming to go one better than last year will be looking for a win against a side that had a poor season last term.
2008 Allsvenskan champions Kalmar may have lost Viktor Elm and Patrik Ingelsten during the winter but that has not sunk the club. Daryl Smylie was signed from Ljungskile as Viktor Elm's replacement and the club have been playing well in pre-season.
One man in particular has been impressive for the champions in pre-season has been Daniel Mendes. Having scored twice in the pre-season tour in Spain against Lyn Oslo and FC Nordsjälland he has been playing well.
New signing Daryl Smylie has settled in well and has scored once against Åtvidaberg. Rasmus Elm has been subject to a move abroad but has stayed which has helped Kalmar as they look to retain the title they so impressively won last year.
The 16 Allsvenskan clubs have been busy with pre-season games in preparation for April 5th the start of the Allsvenskan season.
AIK have been very busy and have played 5 games so far. IFK Mariehamn were beaten 1-0 last month and AIK went on lose to Västerås SK 4-2 and that was followed by 3-1 defeats at home to Syrianska and Örebro. Their latest match last Monday ended in a 0-0 draw with Assyriska.
AIK face 3 more matches at home before flying to Málaga to play Russian side Alania. After that GIF Sundsvall are to be played in what is their final pre-season game.
Hammarby have had a busy pre-season. They were held to a 1-1 draw by GAIS in their 1st game before flying out to Los Angeles to face bth Houston Dynamo and Chivas USA in which they drew 0-0 with Houston and lost 2-0 to Chivas.
Hammarby were held to a 1-1 draw by IFK Norrköping and then beat Östersunds 1-0. Hammarby face 4 more games before the start of the season.
The 2009 Allsvenskan is just over a month away and since November when the 2008 season ended we have had changes.
Djurgården changed their coach, Kalmar lost 2 key players and their was talk of Henrik Larsson leaving.
But with a month to go before the start it is looking hard to see Kalmar retain the title they won last year. Viktor Elm and Patrik Ingelsten both left in December and only Daryl Smylie the big signing.
Of the clubs who should be challenging Elfsborg proberly will have enough to win the title come November. Anders Svensson has stayed, James Keene could stay and Emir Bajrami has stayed for now.
As for the rest challenging for Europe is the minimum that will be expected of AIK and Djurgården after disasterous 2008 seasons in which the latter were involved in a relegation tussle. AIK have kept hold of Ivan Óbolo and Jorge Ortíz ahead of what is an important season for the Stockholm giants.
Hammarby were hot and cold in 2008 and will be expected to push harder this term. Erkan Zengin is the high profile departee on loan to Besiktas in Turkey and Charlie Davies in what could be his last year in Sweden will stay.
And what of Örebro? What can we expect with the central side. A poor 1st half of 2008 was overwritten by a fantastic 2nd half of 2008 in which they went unbeaten for 4 months. Sixten Boström has stayed and has kept hold of key players such as Eric Bassombeng, Kim Olsen and the valuable Nordin Gerzic.
