• Sweden edition
Sport

Sweden to play England to open Swedbank Arena

Published: 15 Nov 11 07:15 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/37354/20111115/

England will take on Sweden in a friendly next year to mark the opening of a new national stadium in Stockholm.

Fabio Capello's side face the Swedes in a friendly at Wembley on Tuesday as part of their preparations for Euro 2012.

And in a reciprocal deal, the English Football Assocation have agreed to send a team to be the first opponents at the new 50,000-capacity Swedbank Arena on November 14 next year.

The new stadium, which is still under construction, boasts a retractable roof and is located just outside of central Stockholm in Solna municipality.

England also played the first match at Sweden's current national stadium, the Råsunda, in May 1937.

By next November England will be under new management as Capello plans to step down at the end of the Euro finals in Poland and Ukraine.

Capello's successor will hope to improve England's poor record against Sweden.

Tuesday's meeting will be the 22nd between the two teams, with Sweden boasting the remarkable record of not having lost to England since 1968.

However, England also handed Sweden its worse defeat ever, trouncing the Swedes 12-1 in a match played in London back in 1908.

Originally opened in 1910 with a capacity of 2,000 people, Råsunda was expanded to its current size in 1937.

The stadium is one of only two stadiums in the world to have hosted both the men's and women's World Cup finals.

In 1958, the Brazilian men's squad defeated the host nation Sweden to claim its first ever World Cup title.

And the Norwegian women claimed World Cup gold in 1995 by defeating Germany 2-0.

AFP/The Local (news@thelocal.se)

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

10:29 November 15, 2011 by Grokh
u know society went wrong when they start naming stadiums after banks....
10:42 November 15, 2011 by London_Jim
True - any heart and soul the national game had has been comercialised to the point that only kids and women really enjoy it anymore, for the spectacle and pantomime. The England/Sweden game has only sold over half the available tickets for tomorrow, showing the complete lack of interest.

Not sure how anyone who followed England prior to the late 90s can watch them anymore.
11:08 November 15, 2011 by Lukestar1991
I cant stand commercial football, but please, Sverige, thrash the f*****s.
11:30 November 15, 2011 by Gm_Tuzik
@Grokh

Not far from the days for schools and universities.....
12:04 November 15, 2011 by apelsin000
anyway, the stadium looks nice...
23:11 November 15, 2011 by trendsetter
Lukestar 1991 - sorry old chap but looks like the football 2nite did not go the way u would have liked - never mind eh ...............................................................
01:35 November 16, 2011 by Frank Arbach
@ trendsetter

Yes indeed! The English team should have scored more than one goal actually. I couldn't help feeling most of the fouls and free kicks seemed to be given away by Sweden.

Guess their guys thought they were still on the streets of Stockholm, barging and pushing people out of the way....
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines
Swedish addicts could get glass 'free zone'

Swedish addicts could get glass 'free zone'

Politicians in the small Swedish town of Falköping want to give alcoholics and drug users a glass-encased zone in the middle of a central square, saying it would lessen public disturbances and allow "the down and out" to socialize. READ () »

EU probes SAS airline over state aid

EU probes SAS airline over state aid

The European Commission opened an in-depth probe on Wednesday to see if state aid given to Scandinavian Airlines by Sweden and Denmark conformed to EU rules. READ () »

Fashion Fix
Jeepers creepers, your shoes hurt my peepers

Jeepers creepers, your shoes hurt my peepers

In The Local's new Fashion Fix column on Swedish trends, Englishwoman Victoria Hussey gets up close and personal with shoes - namely "brothel creepers" from WWII that have been making a steady return to Stockholm pavements. READ () »

Frozen raspberries could spread vomiting bug

Frozen raspberries could spread vomiting bug

Imported frozen raspberries should be boiled before eaten according to new advice from Sweden's National Food Agency, which warns that the berries may carry the novo virus that is more known for causing winter vomiting disease. READ () »

Body of lonely Swedish patient forgotten for days

Body of lonely Swedish patient forgotten for days

A deceased patient who had no relatives was left in a room for five days at the Örebro University Hospital before staff realized the body was still there. READ () »

Scab row as students disrupt bus strike

Scab row as students disrupt bus strike

Stockholm bus traffic was at a standstill Wednesday as drivers launched a major strike at midnight, but a group of Conservative youths disrupted the action by replacing a bus route between two of the city's major hospitals. READ () »

Tax bill for politician's ties to far-right site

Tax bill for politician's ties to far-right site

Sweden Democrat MP Kent Ekeroth has to pay tax for money sent to his bank account as donations to two far-right websites that he claims to have nothing to do with editorially. READ () »

The Local List
Top ten ways you know you've turned Swedish

Top ten ways you know you've turned Swedish

For some foreigners living in Sweden, a natural "inner Swede" can develop that often doesn't show its face until you're back home again. The Local's Patrick Reilly lists the top ten ways this inner Swede can change your life. READ () »

More Sport

 

RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER AND ALERTS
 

 

Highlights
Elodie Pradet/The Local Elodie Pradet WikiCommons Private/Scanpix Scanpix fastighetsbyrån.se Elodie Pradet/The Local File photo: AP File photo: Scanpix Private Göran Höglund/Flickr Finest.se Scanpix Ann Törnkvist Stefan Larsson Private DoToday Scanpix, C More The Local Finest.se Facebook The Local Scanpix Ann Törnkvist/The Local Henrik Montgomery/Scanpix CDC/Wikipedia (File) kristja/sxc.hu (File) Fastighetsbyrån Swedish expats use book club to survive London Finest.se Sergei Grits Silence/WikiCommons Oliver Gee Oliver Gee Scanpix veidekke/Flickr Eddie Gee David V. Hughes

 

Latest news from The Local in Germany

More news from Germany at thelocal.de

Latest news from The Local in France

More news from France at thelocal.fr

Latest news from The Local in Norway

More news from Norway at thelocal.no

Latest news from The Local in Switzerland

More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »


Blog Update: Snuggling With the Enemy

19 June 19:39

Kentucky’s Bourbon Royalty Visits Sweden »

"He's not a celebrity in Sweden, but everyone in Kentucky knows the name Fred Noe. Even more people know the name of his great-grandfather, Jim Beam." READ »

Trade binary options
Create an account with Banc De Binary, the world’s most reputable binary options firm, and start cashing in today! You can start by practicing with our free $50,000 demo account.
www.bbinary.com
Therapy in English
Expat counsellor & talk therapist offers counselling for stress, relationship issues, sexuality, culture adjustment & life coaching. Private & confidential. Stockholm or Skype. Contact me today! 08-559 22 636 or
CLICK HERE
The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now