Carl Starfelt was given an unlikely role for Sweden in their friendly win against Uzbekistan- playing as a defensive midfielder.
The 25-year-old is back in the international fold after missing out on the European Championships with today’s friendly a filler between World Cup qualifiers against Spain and Greece.
Starfelt was in the squad that beat Spain on Thursday night but failed to make the bench as the Swedes enjoyed a 2-1 victory that puts them into top place in Group B, two points ahead of Spain with a game less played.
Kosovo, Greece and Georgia don’t look likely to put up much resistance leaving it between Spain and Sweden for the one automatic place to next season’s World Cup Finals.
Piggt inhopp av Jordan Larsson och udda inhopp av Carl Starfelt som central mittfältare. Säger ju lite om hur mycket vilan prioriterades för andra spelare inför VM-kvalet mot Grekland.
— Michael Wagner (@MicGWagner) September 5, 2021
Translate:
Lively entry by Jordan Larsson and odd entry by Carl Starfelt as central midfielder. Says a bit about how much rest was prioritized for other players before the World Cup qualifier against Greece.
A 30 minute run in a slightly different position won’t do Starfelt any harm, after watching the Euros from the outside he’ll be happy to be back on the international scene.
When Kris Ajer joined Brentford the need at Celtic was to sign up an over-ready defender to step in and bring experience and know how to a new look defence.
Starfelt has had a rocky start to the early stages of his Celtic career, despite a howler of an own goal away to AZ Alkmaar he recovered to help Celtic through to the group stage.
With Cameron Carter-Vickers signed for the season from Spurs Ange Postecoglou has live options in central defence with Josip Juranovic another ready-to-play option in defence.
Sweden are away to Greece on Wednesday in their final September international.
