Problems for Sweden
By Nathan Mercer
BBC Sport in Gothenburg
England scouts would have been encouraged by Sweden's faltering performance in Gothenburg on Thursday in their penultimate warm-up game before they travel to Germany.
The Swedes, who will be in England's group at the World Cup, played out a goalless draw with Nordic neighbours Finland.
It was met with murmurs of discontent from the 24,000 Swedish fans inside Ullevi. BBC Sport takes a look at how one of England's key opponents is shaping up.
TOOTHLESS IN ATTACK
The World Cup squad selected by coach Lars Lagerback appeared to signal a more offensive approach than in previous tournaments.
Yet without their star names of Freddie Ljungberg, Henrik Larsson and Zlatan Ibrahimovic for Thursday's friendly, Sweden looked toothless in attack and ponderous in possession.
The Swedish media has praised Lagerback's desire to attack teams and many saw it as a move away from the stubborn, workmanlike image that has been a corner stone of the Swedish style in years gone by.
And with young talents Johan Elmander, Marcus Rosenberg, Kim Kallstrom and Christian Wilhelmsson in the starting line-up, much was expected of their new breed of stars to fill the breach left by their nations' hereos.
But they showed precious little creativity going forward and were comfortably kept at bay by Roy Hodgson's tidy Finland team.
FITNESS
One problem Lagerback must contend with is the condition of his squad.
The Swedish league - Allsvenskan - only began in April and will not restart until after the World Cup in July, meaning many of the current squad are lacking in match fitness.
That, along with the strenuous seasons of those in the Premiership and the rest of Europe, has provided a tricky balancing act for Lagerback and his coaches in training.
Aston Villa and Sweden captain Olof Mellberg believes that the squad have yet to find their rhythm.
He told BBC Sport: "This week has been relaxed in training and we all come from different situations as some people have come from playing a lot of games and some have come from playing hardly any.
"So it was more important from an individual point of view. Some needed a game and some needed a rest so we didn't look too much at the score today."
THE IBRAHIMOVIC FACTOR
The Swedes are now left pinning their hopes on big names to inspire their talented youngsters.
And, just as England's eyes are on Wayne Rooney and his fitness, so Sweden's fortunes are being rested squarely on Zlatan Ibrahimovic's shoulders.
Lagerback has rounded on the Swedish media, branding them pathetic for their criticism and expectancy levels of the talisman.
And he was keen to relieve some of that pressure on Ibrahimovic by leaving him on the bench.
But despite calls from the fans for his introduction, Lagerback persisted with his new front-line pairing of Rosenberg and Elmander and when the change up front did come, it was former Aston Villa striker Marcus Allaback who took to the field.
But Ibrahimovic's absence only further reinforced his importance to the side instead of dampening the hype and expectancy surrounding him.
Former Tottenham left-back Erik Edman told BBC Sport: "We didn't play that well but we know we can do a lot better next time and of course we miss those players who were not playing.
"If you have three or four good players missing, it affects a squad like Sweden because it's not like England where you have 22 players who are all big names and players."
MOVEMENT AND TEMPO
Midfielder Niclas Alexandersson knows the pace England will play at after he had spells with West Ham and Everton, and he called on his team-mates to raise their tempo.
He told BBC Sport: "It was a slow pace and the tempo was a bit low. We need this game to get the tempo up. Most of the players have had a week or two where they haven't played a game so that's maybe why we were slow.
"The attacking will come but we were standing still playing today and there was not so much movement. To create more chances we need to have better movement."
CONCLUSIONS
Sweden's last match was against Republic of Ireland in March where they were outplayed and easily brushed aside 3-0.
Lagerback described that as the worst showing since he took charge eight years ago and Thursday's lacklustre draw will have done little to give him and his camp confidence ahead of their opening match with Trinidad and Tobago.
Sweden's final World Cup warm-up match is against Chile on Friday 2 June but on this showing England will have little to fear when the two sides meet in three weeks.
