Sweden needs a little luck to get past North Korea

Soccer Betting Lines

09/17/2007 - Tiajin, China (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sweden's hoping to change its luck against North Korea on Tuesday.

The third-ranked Swedes settled for a 1-1 tie in their World Cup opener on a late equalizer by Nigeria, then lost to the United States 2-0.

To avoid failing to make the quarterfinals for the first time in its history, Sweden has to beat North Korea by at least three goals.

"Luck's not been on our side and we've only got one point in the bag. But we'll do everything in our power to get back on track and try and win our third group match," Sweden coach Thomas Dennerby told FIFA's website.

A change in luck may help the Swedes, who have struggled finishing scoring chances despite numerous opportunities in both games, but it's going to take more than that against North Korea.

North Korea, ranked fifth, tied the United States in its opener 2-2 and then posted a 2-0 win over Nigeria. North Korea is tied with the United States for first place in Group B, and needs a tie or win to secure a spot in the next round.

"Our next game against Sweden will be very tough, but we're ready to take them on," North Korea coach Kim Kwang Min told FIFA's website. "We haven't sealed qualification yet so we're obliged to play to win, there's no other way."

Sweden has no other option, either. But if it's going to advance, Victoria Svensson, Hanna Ljungberg and Lotta Schelin have to start scoring.

The trio are three of the best scorers in the tournament, with Svensson and Ljungberg more experienced on the international level.

Ljungberg has 71 career goals and Svensson - who scored the team's lone goal in a tie with Nigeria - has 59.

With the way Sweden's struggled offensively in its first two games, the large winning margin seems unlikely. But the Swedes displayed just how dangerous the offense can be in European qualifying, scoring 32 goals in eight games - an average of four per contest.

Ljungberg had 10 goals in qualifying, Schelin had six and Svensson and Therese Lundin, a midfielder, each had four.

As bad as Sweden's played in its first two games, it would still be a threat to win the tournament if it can advance.

"If we can do that," Dennerby said, "then anything is possible."

North Korea won't make it easy on the 2003 runners-up, though. The Asian team looked better than the Americans for long stretches, and had no real trouble with Nigeria.

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