Dundee goalkeeper Kelvin Jack has been pinpointed as a weak link in the Trinidad and Tobago line up by opening World Cup opponents Sweden (writes Tom Duthie).
The pair, who are in England’s group, clash in Dortmund in Saturday’s tea-time kick-off and, with training now focusing specifically on the game, veteran Swedish coach Lars Lagerback has altered shooting practice.
He has instructed a strikeforce that includes ex-Celt Henrik Larsson, Arsenal’s Freddie Ljungberg and Juventus ace Zlatan Ibrahimovic to concentrate on hitting low efforts just inside the near posts.
The move is apparently based on the belief that Jack, as he often has been since Dutchman Leo Beenhakker took over as T&T coach, will be preferred to the more experienced West Ham goalkeeper Shaka Hislop.
“Yesterday, training was interrupted and the strikers were told to fire the ball in low. We believe Jack has a weakness with those type of shots and it is something that can be exploited,” said an insider from the Swedes’ training camp.
“We are surprised that Hilsop will not play, but our understanding is that Beenhakker has faith in Jack and will go with him — that might be good news for Sweden.”
The Scandinavians have been doing their homework and their predicted Trinidad line-up also includes Dundee United striker Collin Samuel being used wide on the left — no big surprise as it is the position in which he has been used most by Beenhakker.
St Johnstone’s Jason Scotland and former Dundee man Brent Sancho are expected to be on the bench.
