 |
|
||
 |
|||
 |
 |
 |
   |  | |||||||||||||||||||||
Sweden debut for keeper Shaaban
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTSSTOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Goalkeeper Rami Shaaban will make his Sweden debut in Thursday's friendly against Finland in Gothenburg, the Swedish FA announced on Wednesday. The former Arsenal goalkeeper, who is World Cup bound despite never playing for his country at any level, will start in the warm-up friendly instead of regular first choice Andreas Isaksson. Shaaban played three Premier League games for Arsenal in 2002 before breaking his leg during training. After several short spells with small clubs, he finally settled with Norwegian first division side Frederikstad in December. Shaaban, who has Egyptian roots and once considered playing for the African nation, impressed Sweden coach Lars Lagerback enough this year to make it into the 23-man squad for the World Cup finals. Stade Rennes' Isaksson will be on the bench as will Juventus striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and central defender Teddy Lucic, also first choices for the World Cup. With striker Henrik Larsson being rested, Ajax Amsterdam's Markus Rosenberg will partner Johan Elmander up front. Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg will also be absent as he aims to recover from a foot injury in time for the World Cup, which begins on June 9. Sweden, who play their final warm-up friendly on June 2 against Chile, are grouped with England, Paraguay and Trinidad & Tobago at the finals. 
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
| © 2007 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us. Site Map. |
|
External sites open in new window; not endorsed by CNN.com
Pay service with live and archived video. 
