The national team captain Janne Andersson can - despite two international matches remaining - look back on the darkest year for the national team in a very long time.

A noticeably difficult generational change, loads of injuries and withdrawals, players benched in their club teams and a less successful attempt to change to a more offensive football – these are factors behind a weak 2022.

Where the national team will be in six months remains to be seen, but an extremely difficult test awaits directly in the European Championship qualifiers.

Ends against Estonia in November

On Sunday, the EC qualifying groups were drawn and today the game program in Sweden's group was nailed down.

Sweden opens against Belgium, ranked second in the world behind Brazil, at the end of March and finishes the qualifiers at home against Estonia in November.

The two best placed teams in the group reach the playoffs in Germany in the summer of 2024.

The national team ends this year by facing Mexico in Girona, Spain, on November 16.

Three days later, another international match is planned.

The Swedish Football Association has not yet announced the opponent or venue.

Javascript is disabled

Javascript must be enabled to play video

Read more about browser support

Jan Andersson.

Photo: Bildbyrån.