SWE vs GER: Sweden Loses Players Due to Illness and Injury

Sweden's national team, which will face Germany in Sochi on Saturday in the second round of Group G of the 2018 World Cup, has lost three players due to illness and one due to an ankle injury, according to coach Janne Andersson.

"Filip Helander, Pontus Jansson, and Marcus Rohden complained of stomach problems on Thursday night and did not travel to Sochi," said the coach during a pre-match press conference in Russia.

The most significant absence for Sweden against Germany will be defender Pontus Jansson, a regular starter in the Nordic team. It is likely that his position will be taken by Emil Krafth.

"The three players suffered stomach problems last night, and for safety reasons, we left them at home," added the coach. But the bad news continued for Sweden's squad, which leads the group alongside Mexico, as it was confirmed that forward Isaac Kiese Thelin has an ankle injury.

The 25-year-old player participated in a few minutes of the 1-0 victory over South Korea but will not be able to face Germany, and his recovery prognosis has not yet been disclosed.