Kalmar 0-3 IFK Goteborg 13th March 2010

The start that IFK Goteborg were looking for. The runners-up last year set about their intentions of winning that title in October by comfortably dispatching a surprisingly below-par Kalmar side.

The away side were ahead within the half-hour with 2009's joint top-scorer Tobias Hysén getting off the mark.

Five minuets into the 2nd period Hysén got his 2nd as IFK took control of the game. Kalmar had few chances and were hit with a killer 3rd on 67 minuets when Hjalmar Jonsson slotted past Petter Wasta. The Icelandic may become a vital player this year for the Goteborg giants.

A fantastic start for IFK but Kalmar will definitely need to improve if they are to come close of emulating the 2008 title win.

Kalmar: Petter Wasta (g.k): Emin Nouri, Tobias Carlsson, Paulus Arajuuri, Stefan Larsson, Tobias Eriksson, Henrik Rydstrom (C), Erik Israelsson, Daniel Sobralense, Ricardo Santos, Abiola Dauda subs: Etrit Berisha (g.k), Marcus Lindberg, Daryl Smylie, Jimmie Augustsson, Stefan Alander, Jael Ferreira, Mattias Johansson

IFK Goteborg: Kim Christensen (g.k): Erik Lund, Ragnar Sigurdsson, Karl Svensson, Hjalmar Jonsson, Stefan Selakovic (C), Gustav Svensson, Alexander Faltsetas, Theodór Bjarnsson, Par Eriksson, Tobias Hysén subs: Marcus Sandberg (g.k), Tuomo Turunen, Thomas Olsson, Jakob Johansson, Tobias Sana, Sebastian Eriksson, William Atashadeh

Venue: Fredriksskans

Time: 16:00

It's Back

Finally it's here the new season begins today with Kalmar hosting IFK Goteborg. This is a tough looking game for IFK to start with as they look to banish the pain of 2009.

Elsewhere in Round 1.

Sunday afternoon sees Helsingborgs begin with a home game against IF Brommapojkarna in a game that I see Helsingborgs winning.

2009 surprise package BK Hacken host 2009 flops Djurgarden in a game that may have goals about it. BK Haken to win though.

Halmstads will look to a bright 2010 with a home game against Trelleborgs. Draw in this game but Trelleborgs I feel may be a surprise package this year.

Finally on Sunday champions AIK host Suprettan champions Mjallby at the Rasunda. Simply going one way this game and that's an AIK victory by 3-0 I think. Mjallby seem to be in for a difficult season.

Monday hosts the final three games of the round. Gefle host Elfsborg in a fascinating game in Gavle. Gefle will be out to make 2010 their year while Elfsborg will hopefully be chasing the title.

Orebro host newly promoted Atvidabergs at the Behrn Arena. 2010 may have some surprises for Orebro while Atvidabergs will definetly be battling against the drop.

Finally GAIS host Malmo a game that may go either way. Malmo after two lean years may finally chase Europe and maybe higher but for GAIS beating the drop will be a success.

One week to go!

Allsvenskan 2010 is just a week away. Having seen one of the closest title races in 2009 can we expect more of the same this year? the answer may very well be yes. Many sides are looking good among these are Elfsborg, IFK Goteborg, Kalmar, AIK? and maybe Helsingborgs.

Predictions:

My predictions were well off last year as I predicted Elfsborg to win the title. But I am going to stick with Elfsborg for this year because I still beleive they have the strongest squad in the league. Yes IFK Goteborg have good players and were unlucky in 2009 but Elfsborg have had this squad for years now and it's about time they add a title to the 2007 success.

Europe:

Obviously the race for Europe will be tight. BK Hacken were desperatly unlucky not to snatch a Europa League place from Kalmar but they have a bit of experience now and could challenge. Malmo will be stronger this year. They lacked consistency last year despite that late season push. Helsingborgs will definetly be back in the mix and Orebro might cause a shock or two. Gefle may also challenge having made some good signings during the winter.

Relegation:

Relegation has been tight in recent years but having lost Hammarby in 2009 the scrap could involve another big name. Djurgarden I think will be safe this year and may not be involved at all. IF Brommapojkarna will be in trouble but they will be joined by Mjallby and Atvidabergs in the fight. GAIS may also be dragged into the frame again.

So there it is my predictions. Last year I was pathetic at my predictions but I have a feeling I have success this year. Elfsborg for the title. Mjallby, Atvidabergs to go back down and IF Brommapojkarna to go into the play-off.

Wales 0-1 Sweden

Sweden prepared for the upcoming Euro 2012 qualifying campaign with a win over Wales in Swansea on Wednesday night.

The game was played in front of just 8,000 fans but those fans got to see a top quality strike from struggling Bolton striker Johan Elmander. Since his switch to England in 2008, Elmander has struggled for top form but this strike showed his class.

Salzburg goalkeeper Eddie Gustafsson played well having been part of the Salzburg side that exited the Europa League last week.

Erik Hamrén still knows work is needed if the Swedes are to book a place in Poland and Ukraine this time two years.

Euro 2012 draw

The qualifiers for Euro 2012 were announced a few weeks ago and it threw up an interesting group for the Swedes.

1. Holland
2. SWEDEN
3. Finland
4. Hungary
5. Moldova
6. San Marino

Holland will be favorites but the Swedes will be confident of causing an upset in this group. Finland will be the Scandinavian opponents this time and will be difficult to beat under Stuart Baxter. Hungary were in the world cup qualifiers last year with Sweden so they know what they are about. Moldova have potential to be awkward opponents but can be beaten by Sweden.

San Marino barring a miracle will be the whipping boys. The San Marino side should be comprehensively beaten by Sweden but overall it is a group that Sweden can win if they perform.

Super Cup

The Super Cup is coming up on March 6th between AIK and IFK Goteborg. These two were involved in the tight title race in November and a week later the Svenska Cupen final, both of which were won by AIK.

IFK Goteborg have gone about their business this winter by keeping their remaining 2009 squad. AIK though have lost a few key players from the 2009 season. The upcoming season starts just under a month from now and the favourites may well be IFK Goteborg.

The Super cup will take place a week before the Allsvenskan season which means both sides have two weeks of pre-season left to prepare.

AIK can they break into the Champions League?

It's something that hasn't been achieved since Helsingborgs' 2000-01 champions league group stage campaign. But the question is can AIK achieve that this summer?
Personally back in November the answer would've been yes they would have a great chance of emulating that Helsingborg side that knocked Inter Milan out in the 3rd qualifying round in 2000.
But since November things have changed. Key players to the AIK title winning side have made me think that AIK might have shot themselves in the foot for this challenge. Daniel Orlund, ok he was drafted in last year because of Tomi Maanoja's horror injury but kept goal well, Iván Óbolo, was simply AIK's main treat. His goals propelling AIK to the double. Both just two players who have since left the club for Rosenborg and Arsenal de Sárandi respectively.
At the moment I can't see AIK making the group stage.

We saw last year that Kalmar were unlucky to go out to Debrecen. But look at what Debrecen achieved, money spinning ties against some of Europe's top names in the Group stage. The main problem for Swedish clubs is the selling of star players to make quick profits. The clubs are very keen to get as much out of their talented players than holding on and actually breaking into Europe's premier competition.
When Kalmar won the league in 2008 they did the same. They sold Viktor Elm, Patrik Ingelsten and since then lost Rasmus and David Elm. It's a trend that will continue unless the clubs wake up and see what potential they really have.