Sweden prepares for hostile atmosphere in Zenica against Bosnia-Herzegovina

When it became clear that Bosnia-Herzegovina's national team striker and big star Edin Džeko would play his last game and be dismissed against Sweden on Friday, October 2, the Swedish national team goalkeeper Noel Törnqvist's mobile phone began to buzz.

- Every single Bosnian I know sent "you must redeem tickets", "you must take his shirt if you join" and so on. It's an incredibly big match. It will be really powerful to be there and experience it, he says and tells us that he has tried to redeem as many tickets as possible.

Törnqvist says that he knows many Swedish-Bosnians and that his best friend has Bosnian roots.

- It's a cool country. They - that is, the people - are really passionate about football. With all the country has been through and so on it's nice to see that a country can end up like that.

Considering the solemn Friday evening that awaits at the arena Bilino Polje in Zenica, the Swedish national team management has tried to prepare the players that it will be different than stepping out at the Strawberry arena in Solna.

- It will be a very tough match. I imagine it will be a hostile atmosphere. It's a match we're looking forward to. They have done very well. They made it to the World Cup and beat Italy in the playoffs. We certainly do not underestimate them, says Graham Potter.

Sweden's assistant national team captain Andreas Georgson explains why the national team management has talked to the players about the difference between playing at home in Solna and playing away in Zenica:

- I think that is important. Now we've had two great results and largely good performances, but it's important not to get carried away by the fact that it gives some free points on Friday. Humans work easily so that it can feel like the usual: "If we just do the same thing, it will be fine again." But I don't think that's the case, it's about setting it to zero.

Bosnia-Herzegovina have opened this year's Nations League play with a draw away to Poland and a win away to Romania. This gives a second place in the four-team group, which Sweden leads with a margin of two points.

If Bosnia wins on Friday night, they will take over first place in the group.

- I think most people are quite aware that it is a very good national team. They did well in the WC and the game means a lot to them, as it does to us too of course. But it will be tough in any case, says national team goalkeeper Noel Törnqvist.

During Thursday, the Swedish national team announced that Patrik Wålemark, Yasin Ayari, Elliot Stroud, Gustaf Lagerbielke and Benjamin Nygren will miss Friday's match due to illness. Therefore, the replacements Samuel Dahl, Hugo Bolin, Felix Beijmo and Ken Sema have been called in.