World Cup 2018: Sweden squad hit with sickness bug ahead of crunch clash with Germany
Boss Janne Andersson has revealed that he has left out three players from his matchday squad for the Group F match
SWEDEN have been hit by a sickness bug ahead of their crunch clash with Germany and have been forced to leave players at the team hotel.
Coach Janne Andersson left three players behind in Gelendzhik when the rest of his party flew to Sochi for the clash in the Fischt Arena.
Central defenders Pontus Jansson and Filip Helander and midfielder Marcus Rohden were struck down by the same stomach bug that ruled Manchester United’s Victor Lindelof out of the opening win over Korea.
Andersson said: “The three of them felt unwell in their stomachs last night so for security reasons we have decided to split the trip.
“We didn’t want to bring them on board the flight since we haven’t identified precisely what it was that made them feel a little bit queasy.”
Andersson said all three were were expected to fly to Sochi tomorrow but it seems unlikely any of the trio will be considered for a start.
The risk of the bug spreading is a huge one but the Swedish coach added: “I can only relate to the information we have right now.
“We have nobody else who is showing any signs of illness and believe they will come and join us.
"We hope they will be able to do that.”
Sweden team doctor Anders Valentin confirmed: “Because we can not rule out that it can be contagious, we decided to leave them in the hotel.
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“Our physiotherapist Fredrik Larsson is left in Gelendzhik with the players. Everyone is on the road of improvement and we expect them to join tomorrow.”
The Swedes are also likely to be missing striker Isaac Kiese Thelin, who missed today’s session with a sprained ankle.