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Sweden axe Ostlund from cup squad

Ostlund has paid the price for a poor recent performance against Ireland

STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Juventus's Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Barcelona's Henrik Larsson were named among six strikers in Sweden's World Cup squad on Tuesday.

But there was no place for Southampton defender Alexander Ostlund who was heavily criticised after Sweden lost 3-0 to Ireland in a friendly in March.

Coach Lars Lagerback brought in IFK Gothenburg's Karl Svensson and Fredrik Stenman who has had a strong first season with Bayer Leverkusen but never played for Sweden.

Another surprise was Fredriksborg's Rami Shaaban as one of three goalkeepers, with Eddie Gustafsson of Ham-Kam left out.

Shaaban played three games for Arsenal in 2002 before breaking his leg during training later that year and he never played for the London side again.

Sweden are in Group B with Paraguay, England and Trinidad and Tobago at the finals starting on June 9.

"Henrik Larsson is unique and can play in any position, on the midfield or as a forward," Lagerback said, adding that the 34-year-old was "improving with age."

Lagerback predicted Ibrahomovic would be "better than in Portugal" in Euro 2004, and said Arsenal's Fredrik Ljungberg has "a great eye for football."

Prolific striker Marcus Allback, who over the weekend won the Danish league with FC Copenhagen, was included as backup to Larsson and Ibrahimovic.

Lagerback said it was "easy to select 15, 16 players," and that the choice had been toughest regarding goalkeepers and defenders.

"After Sweden qualified, we have studied their performance on the national side and how they have fared in their clubs," 57-year-old Lagerack said, adding that while some of the players were young they were "selected on merits but may be future key players."

Provisional squad

Goalkeepers: Andreas Isaksson (Stade Rennes), John Alvbage (Viborg), Rami Shaaban (Fredrikstad).

Defenders: Erik Edman (Stade Rennes), Petter Hansson (Heerenveen), Teddy Lucic (BK Hacken), Olof Mellberg (Aston Villa), Mikael Nilsson (Panathinaikos), Fredrik Stenman (Bayer Leverkusen), Karl Svensson (IFK Goteborg).

Midfielders: Niclas Alexandersson (IFK Goteborg), Daniel Andersson (Malmo FF), Kim Kallstrom (Stade Rennes), Tobias Linderoth (FC Copenhagen), Fredrik Ljungberg (Arsenal), Anders Svensson (Elfsborg), Christian Wilhelmsson (Anderlecht).

Forwards: Marcus Allback (FC Copenhagen), Johan Elmander (Brondby), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Juventus), Mattias Jonson (Djurgarden), Henrik Larsson (Barcelona), Markus Rosenberg (Ajax).

Ecuador squad

Ecuador included temperamental Argentina-based striker Ivan Kaviedes in their 23-man World Cup squad on Tuesday.

The Argentinos Juniors forward, who has also played club football in Italy, Spain, Mexico, England and Portugal, last appeared for his country in a 5-2 World Cup qualifying win over Paraguay in March 2005.

Kaviedes's disciplinary problems have restricted his appearances under Ecuador coach Luis Fernando Suarez.

The major absentee in the squad was Franklin Salas. Doctors said last month the striker would not recover from a knee operation in time for the tournament.

Ecuador have been drawn in Group A with hosts Germany, Poland and Costa Rica.

Goalkeepers: Edwin Villafuerte (Deportivo Quito), Cristian Mora (LDU), Damian Lanza (Aucas)

Defenders: Ivan Hurtado (Al Arabi, Qatar), Geovanny Espinoza (LDU), Ulises de la Cruz (Aston Villa), Paul Ambrossi (LDU), Neicer Reasco (LDU), Jorge Guagua (El Nacional), Jose Luis Perlaza (Olmedo)

Midfielders: Marlon Ayovi (Deportivo Quito), Edwin Tenorio (Barcelona), Edison Mendez (LDU), Patricio Urrutia (LDU), Cristian Lara (El Nacional), Segundo Castillo (El Nacional), Luis Antonio Valencia (Recreativo Huelva, Spain), Luis Fernando Saritama (Deportivo Quito).

Forwards: Cristian Benitez (El Nacional), Felix Borja (El Nacional), Carlos Tenorio (Al Sadd, Qatar), Agustin Delgado (LDU), Ivan Kaviedes (Argentinos Juniors, Argentina)

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