Sweden (A) - general (Thu 22/03/13)

[pineapple stu]

Post away on this trip.

[French Toasht]

Our match against Sweden will be their first competitive game in the new 50,000 seater Swedbank Arena. First game there is a friendly against England in November 2012.

[Junior]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedbank_Arena,_Solna

[brine3]

Sweden match should be in their new stadium Swedbank Arena (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedbank_Arena,_Solna).

Shame, I was hoping it would be at the old ground, Råsunda, which is a bit like Highbury.

[French Toasht]

Good article in the Guardian today about John Guidetti. They have big hopes for him here that he will become Zlatan's long term successor. Not sure if he'll make the cut for the Euros but would expect him to be a permanent fixture by the time we play them in March 2013.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/feb/15/john-guidetti-manchester-city-feyenoord?newsfeed=true

Also one of his better goals scored against Malmö a few years back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOJbK4vIcog

[mypost]

This game is on a Friday night. 22 March 2013.

[French Toasht]

Olof Mellberg to quit after Euro 2012.

http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotboll/landslagsfotboll/article14721335.ab

[IsMiseSean]

I know its ages away yet, but is this game definitely confirmed for Stockholm on the 22nd?

[Junior]

Not definitely but the general consensus from fans (some of which based in Sweden) is that it will be Stockholm on account of the new national stadium there.

Im looking at this one for my next away game. I believe Ryanair flight in the region of €200 return at the moment which is good value. No good to me though....

[Claret Murph]

Try SAS or Air Lingus out of Dublin as this flys to the main airport in Stockholm .

[AidoP]

I thought it was confirmed for Malmo?

[IsMiseSean]

I'm booked for Stockholm now anyway. If the game ends up in Malmo well then Swedish road trip I guess!!

[ArdeeBhoy]

Malmo is nowhere near Stockholm. And is the most dull city ever.

Would be amazed if they bothered playing there.

[ifk101]

It's confirmed for Stockholm. They're playing Kazakstan in Malmö.

[IsMiseSean]

I was thinking it would be.
Their new stadium the Friends Arena (gay) will have a capacity of 50,000. Are the rules regarding tickets still that we get an allocation of 10%?

[brendy_éire]

I was thinking it would be.
Their new stadium the Friends Arena (gay) will have a capacity of 50,000. Are the rules regarding tickets still that we get an allocation of 10%?

I don't think (famous last words) that tickets will be an issue for this one. Sweden's best attendance during the last qualifying campaign was 33k against Netherlands.

[Junior]

Though, I think I read that away supporters allocation has now been cut to 5% (Not sure though if that is for this WCQ's or the next ECQ's) Sorry cant find a link at the moment.

[French Toasht]

Hey lads ironically the week there will be an Irish invasion in Sweden, I will be back home in Ireland for a wedding. In my experience having gone to plenty of Blågult games, getting a ticket has never really been an issue. Although just regarding the poster above who said Sweden's best attendence in the last campaign was 33k but that was pretty much max capacity in the old Råsunda stadium in Stockholm, they've since moved to a new 50k stadium. That said I dont think tickets will be an issue at all.

As regards flights, just to warn you that the Skavsta airport that Ryanair claim is Stockholm is no more in Stockholm than Longford is in Dublin. Skavsta is actually in a completely different city called Nyköping. There are buses though that leave from right outside the airport (http://www.flygbussarna.se/) and takes an hour and 40 minutes to get to Stockholm Central. That bus costs roughly €15 one way.

I would just say if prices aren't too bad, which they shouldn't be compared to Ryanair (once there additional costs are factored in) just fly with SAS to Arlanda, much less hassle and far more direct to your destination.

[French Toasht]

Zlatan signs for PSG.

http://news.yahoo.com/psg-sign-striker-ibrahimovic-three-deal-145456261--sow.html?_esi=1

[IsMiseSean]

Any chance he might quit international football?

[French Toasht]

Any chance he might quit international football?


He's a volatile character and has previously retired from international football after Sweden's failure to qualify for WC 2010. Whilst he has indicated at the Swedish Golden Ball ceremony he will stay for the duration of this campaign, I wouldn't be surprised if they have a shocker in the first two fixtures against Kazakhstan or the Faroes that he could throw the toys out of the pram.

Thing is though and I've said it on here before, many of the Swedes, whilst acknowledging he is their one world class player, the team often play better in Zlatan's absence, because he's quite lazy a player and there is far more movement in his absence. Their qualifying win over Holland being a prime example of this theory.

On a seperate note, keep an eye out for Jordan Larsson, Henrik Larsson's 15 year old son, who's tipped to be a big name in the future.


http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotboll/sverige/article15130212.ab

[French Toasht]

Interesting video on the Enigma that is Zlatan as a teenager.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSuWSPHk3iY&feature=plcp

[theworm2345]

Been researching this one in hopes that my trip over will be a reality. The match is actually outside of Stockholm in a city called Solna. Is this easy to get to does anyone know? I imagine there is some solid, efficient public transit there (seeing as it is Sweden).

[ifk101]

Been researching this one in hopes that my trip over will be a reality. The match is actually outside of Stockholm in a city called Solna. Is this easy to get to does anyone know? I imagine there is some solid, efficient public transit there (seeing as it is Sweden).

Solna is part of Stockholm, about a couple of miles outside the city centre. There won't be any problems with public transport to and from the stadium.

[paul_oshea]

Are SAS in trouble? I hear they are going bust and i booked with them.

[ifk101]

Yes, but wouldn't worry about it.

[brine3]

Hi, I'm living in Sweden and planning to go up to Stockholm for the match.

How difficult is it to get tickets in the away end? Not living in Ireland so I'm not a member of any FAI ticketing scheme/racket. I have been to plenty of away matches over the years, often arriving in the city with no match ticket and getting sorted on the day. But for once I'd like to at least try and do it properly and I have no interest in sitting amongst the Swedes. Rubbish atmosphere...

[brendy_éire]

How difficult is it to get tickets in the away end?

Shouldn't be too much of a problem, I don't think. The FAI will release details for non-'known away travellers' in the new year.

[brine3]

Cheers. What should I do, check the FAI site?

What is "non-known"? People who aren't friends of John Delaney?

[Torn-Ado]

I think you are thinking of The Eurovision.

[brendy_éire]

Cheers. What should I do, check the FAI site?

What is "non-known"? People who aren't friends of John Delaney?

Aye, check the FAI site after 14th January.

[DeLorean]

I've flights booked from London to Stockholm and accommodation sorted. Will stick around on the Saturday too, can't wait!

[cufc champions]

Right Lads I cant go to Sweden due to an FDA audit taking place in Work that week. I have an Aer Lingus Flight booked from Wednesday to Sunday, Dublin to Stockholm Arlanda. I paid 163 euro for it but im willing to let it go for 100 euro plus you change the name on the ticket. Appartently the name change comes to 100euro.The flights now cost 435 on Aer Lingus.
PM me serious offers only,

[paul_oshea]

Lads any help on accommodation everything seems to be costing about £200 for the two nights,friday and saturday....

[IsMiseSean]

Booked into this place on Friday night, got it for 90euros before Xmas. Don't know what they're charging now. It's something different....
http://malardrottningen.se/home.aspx

[paul_oshea]

Cheers, someone helped me out already.

[Junior]

Kick off appears to have been confirmed as 20:45

http://svenskfotboll.se/cuper-och-serier/information/?scr=result&fmid=1776093

[BonnieShels]

I wasn't gonna go but have been offered accom. I think I'lll pass though.

However I'm gonna make you guys go to a friends' comedy club while you're there. I'll give them the heads up. :)

[Junior]

Im not working that weekend though Bonnie. Busmans holiday not my sort of thing.....

[brine3]

Aye, check the FAI site after 14th January.

Still no sign of anything on the site. Perhaps I should just contact the FAI directly...

[brendy_éire]

Still no sign of anything on the site. Perhaps I should just contact the FAI directly...

Probably the best bet. Maybe email the ticket office with your ticket request just. That was the previous method.

[brine3]

Probably the best bet. Maybe email the ticket office with your ticket request just. That was the previous method.

Ok, I've done that. Told them I've been going on and off to away matches all over Europe for over 15 years (I always just "got sorted" for tickets on the day, but am sick of that method since it failed me in Gdansk :D), and would now like to become a "known away supporter". Don't have any ticket stubs to prove it though, I'm not very nostalgic in that way...

[Junior]

I think the official allocation is 2k-2.5k for this game and I think we will struggle to get 2k there. So a perfect opportunity to get yerself on the 'known' away travellers. Dont think you will have any problems getting sorted directly from the FAI

[brine3]

Yup, FAI have now put me down in their system as a known away supporter and I have filed my ticket application on the away portal.

Thanks for the tips, looking forward to the match!

[AidoP]

Does anybody know where about in the stadium the Irish fans will be situated?

http://svenskfotboll.se/landslag/biljett/hemmamatcher-herrar/2013/sverige-irland/

[Junior]

http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fsvenskfotboll.se%2Flandslag%2Fbilje tt%2Fhemmamatcher-herrar%2F2013%2Fsverige-irland%2F&act=url

I tried to have a quick look by going through the process of purchasing some tickets via the Swedish eticket service and then by seeing if any sections were not available to purchase, you could probably work it out by default - However there are a million and one sections that you can buy for, so it wasnt that straight forward!!!!!

You can still apply to the FAI for tickets for this one, if you are wanting to get in with the Ireland Fans, there will be no problem getting tickets (see above posts).

[AidoP]

Thanks Junior but my mate in Sweden was asking because his Swedish girlfriends dad wants to go and he wants to know where the Irish fans will be because he wanted to get a ticket near that area. I'll be applying for my tickets through the FAI as usual for this one. Will be there from Thursday till Sunday so can't wait.

[AidoP]

Actually my mate found out that we are in sections 122-124 so we're in the corner of the stadium.

[Junior]

This is some info I got from our hotel.

The best ways to come here from the airport is either:

By bus, http://www.flygbussarna.se/en you can book online and I believe It’s cheaper to book both ways at the same time.


By train, http://www.arlandaexpress.com/default.aspx?page=3&= Same deal here.


By taxi, the cheapest one I know of is http://www.airportcab.se/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17:welcome-to-airport-cab-stockholm&catid=1:startsidan&Itemid=19 The price from arlanda is 475 SEK. (55€-60€).

So if you've got 3 or 4 to share a taxi 20 euro each way pp is just the job!

[paul_oshea]

anyone flying from London Friday afternoon?

I would like to share a taxi as its about 5 I land I think.