Sweden settle for goalless draw in friendly against Slovenia

Updated: May 17, 2023, 12:58 pm
Sweden defender Andreas Granqvist, left, vies with Slovenia's Josip Ilicic on Monday.
JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images

Sweden defender Andreas Granqvist, left, vies with Slovenia's Josip Ilicic on Monday.
JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images

Sweden and Slovenia played to a goalless draw in a friendly in Malmo on Monday, two weeks ahead of the European Championship.

After a slow first half, Sweden picked up the pace in the second half but were unable to score against Slovenia goalkeeper Vid Belec.

Sweden captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed the match with a calf injury, but addressed his hometown crowd at half-time as he was honoured for his 100 appearances for the national team.

His replacement in the attack, John Guidetti, had Sweden's best chance with header that went just wide in the second half.

After another friendly against Wales on Sunday, the Swedes open their Euro 2016 campaign against Ireland on June 13.

Sweden also face Belgium and Italy in Group E, one of the tournament's toughest.