AIK get Jeunesse Esch in Champions League

2009 Allsvenskan champions AIK will play 2009-10 Luxembourg National Champions Jeunesse Esch in the 2nd qualifying round.

The draw has given AIK a good chance of qualifying for the third round that could see AIK face a much sterner test than what Jeunesse Esch can offer. The Rasunda club are at home in the first leg that kick-off on July 13th/14th with the 2nd leg in the Josy Barthel stadium in Luxembourg city a week later on July 20th/21st.

Juenesse Esch are the current champions of Luxembourg and although not regarded as the best in Luxembourg in the past few years they will be going on the defensive side against the stronger side on paper AIK. They are also the record title holders in Luxembourg with 28 titles to their name. They sought off the challenge of defending champions F91 Dudelange by three points and so their reward is this tie against AIK.

Although being semi-professional the club will be looking for a shock by beating AIK. AIK who have been struggling this season to emulate last year's double success will have to get past Marc Oberwies in the Jeunesse Esch goal and handle striker Sergio Pupovac who has been in free-scoring form for the side domestically.

Kim Olsen leaves Örebro

Örebro have lost leading marksman Kim Olsen. Olsen, who has decided to join Danish 1st Division side Vejle Boldklub had been in good form. Kim Olsen joined Örebro originally on loan in the summer of 2008 from fellow Danish side Silkeborg IF. Olsen impressed with Örebro as they avoided the drop with ease which meant Olsen signed permanently. During 2009 he became a key man in Örebro as they came close to European qualification.

However the arrival of Brazilian Paulinho from Busan I'Park meant competition for places became tighter and Kim's family happiness meant it wasn't viable for the Dane to stay in Sweden. Olsen joins Vejle Boldkulb in Denmark's 2nd tier having been relegated at the end of 2008-09. Kim Olsen has said he would like to be invited back later this year at Örebro for medal presentations in what could be a good year for Örebro.

European adventure time again

With July coming up fast Swedish clubs that will be playing in the Champions League and Europa League will be hoping for a good run in the competitions.

With AIK in the champions league, Elfsborg, IFK Goteborg, Kalmar and Gefle will represent the country in the Europa league.

Champions league:

People are worried about AIK this season. With the side struggling in the Allsvenskan, a champions league campaign is possibly too much a burden on the side. They won the title in 2009 despite scoring just 36 goals in 30 games. The club is weaker than last year which leaves critics saying AIK won't get beyond the 2nd qualifying round. With the departure of the likes of Daniel Örlund and Iván Óbolo both of whom were vital in that league and cup double last year has hit the club hard this year. Leading scorer this year Miran Burgič has also departed for Austria and with the club in the relegation zone at the summer break things are not looking rosy at Råsunda.

Europa League:

IFK Göteborg are off the pace in the league and have suffered some big name departures over the years. But they will be gearing up for what could be a good run in Europe. Despite narrowly missing out last year on the double IFK unlike their rivals AIK are in better shape this season. They maybe mid-table in the Allsvenskan but are on a fine run of form. Players such as Tobias Hysén, Robin Söder and Ragnar Sigurdsson will be vital. IFK start in the 3rd qualifying round thanks to their 2nd place finish last year.

Elfsborg will also be representing Sweden this year and hopes are high for a good run. Last year they beat Sporting Braga en route to exiting at the hands of a superior Lazio side but the effort was there which could help Elfsborg this year. Staring in the 2nd qualifying round, Elfsborg could face some good teams. Sides such as Shamrock Rovers and Sporting Fingal from Ireland as well as the some of the sides that will come in from the 1st qualifying round that features the likes of Anorthosis, Sibenik and Dundalk.

Kalmar are possibly going into the Europa League in the best of form. Despite a sluggish start they have turned their form around and are among the names chasing for a Europa league place for next season. They start the Europa League this year in the 1st qualifying round as one of the seeded teams, which means they could face 'easier' opposition such as Zeta, Llanelli and Glentoran but will want to avoid the long trip to Tobol.

Gefle are involved after winning the fair play league last season and hopes are high for a good run themselves. One of the seeded sides that start in the 1st qualifying round they will be targeting a 2nd qualifying round place at least which would mean they are seeded in the 2nd qualifying round also, thus avoiding the big names.

Emir Bajrami signs for Twente

Emir Bajrami has finally completed the move to new Dutch Eredivisie champions FC Twente. Bajrami becomes the latest player to move south to Holland following Patrik Ingelsten (now Viking), Rasmus and Viktor Elm and Andrés Granqvist.

FC Twente who won the title under the now-departed Steve MacClaren have been looking at Bajrami for some time. It leaves Elfsborg with a hole to fill out on that wing at the Boras Arena but offers the likes of Johan Larsson to establish a first-team place.

A Look back: Relegated clubs

Just like every other league that exists on this planet, relegation is a very dreaded thing here in Sweden. Not just from the Allsvenskan but Superttan and lower down the pyramid that is Swedish domestic football.

Clubs in the Allsvenskan come on go really. A minimum of two get promoted each year while two are relegated with one spot decided by play-offs. But over the years some big names have gone both ways. None really get bigger in Sweden than AIK.

Further down in the Superettan we have some big name clubs especially this season with Örgryte, Östers and IFK Norrköping to name just three. Each have suffered relegation as well as promotion in recent years. In fact Östers are a bit like Sweden's Leeds United. Until this year they were languishing in the Division 1 Södra (3rd tier) and just like Leeds in August they are in the Superettan or 2nd tier as it is known.

In the third tier of Swedish football we have clubs that are big in their own regions. You look at Division 1 norra with Carlstad United, the biggest club in the Varmland County. Qviding are also in the 3rd tier södra. Further north you have Umeå FC, arguably the biggest club in the Norrland. Umeå are the Norrland's real hope of finally getting the Allsvenskan to the norrland but it remains to be seen if they can get to the Superettan first.

AIK's stint in the Superettan in 2005 was a shock considering the size of the club but AIK were not the only big club who have spent time in the Superettan, names such as IFK Norrköping, a traditionally strong club, Östers, Örebro and Kalmar spent time while BK Häcken, Örgryte and Hammarby have also been in the Superettan. While this year the superettan boasted some strong names such as Hammarby, Örgryte, IFK Norrköping, GIF Sundsvall and Östers, other names have since been back to the Allsvenskan and won it with Kalmar and AIK but Örebro have established themselves as a top-flight side.

Sweden U21 2-0 Montenegro U21 8th June 2010

Sweden's U21 side went three points clear in Group 6 after a 2-0 vicotry over Montenegro's U21 side in Halmstads.
The Swedes took the lead after 33 minutes when Denni Avdic converted a penalty, which saw Stefan Savic red carded. Sweden continued to create chances as Jiloan Hamad was unlucky as he hit the bar and Avdic was denied a 2nd goal with a goalline clearence.
Montenegro had a threat about them too as Fatos Beciraj hit the post. Sweden made sure of the three points in the final minute of normal time when Rasmus Jonsson finished past Vlado Gilijen. A good victory for Sweden as they go three points clear of Montenegro.

Group 5:
1. Sweden (16 points)
2. Montenegro (13 points)
3. Israel (10 points)
4. Kazakhstan (5 points)
5. Bulgaria (3 points)

Belarus 0-1 Sweden 2nd June 2010

Fresh from Saturday's 4-2 win at home to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sweden ended up victorious in Minsk against Belarus.

Unlike Saturday's game this game was decided by a solitary goal that came from Christian Wilhelmsson. The goal itself was neatly done by Al-Hilal's Wilhelmsson as he raced to the byline before squeezing a shot from an acute angel in the far corner. A good win for Erik Hamrén's men as the qualifiers for Euro 2012 draw closer.

Erik Hamrén had decided to go with most of the side that beat Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday with Andres Isaksson starting in goal this time and Ola Toivonen and MArcus Berg leading the attack.