Tuesday, 12th November, 2013
Sweden full-back Mikael Lustig believes it will be an advantage for his side to play the first leg of their crucial World Cup playoff tie away in Portugal.
The Scandinavian nation, who finished second in Group C behind Germany, will take on Portugal in an away match on 15th November before playing Paulo Bento’s side in Sweden four days later.
And Lustig wants his nation to come out with a positive result in Portugal as he believes that the Seleccao will be under more pressure as a result of being the stronger side on paper.
However, the Celtic player feels that both nations have an equal chance of going through to next year’s World Cup in Brazil.
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"Portugal was the strongest team we could draw", Lustig told his club’s official site.
"That was frustrating but there is a little bit more pressure on Portugal so hopefully we can take advantage of that.
"On paper they have a bigger team because they have players who play in the bigger leagues, but Sweden work well as a team.
"In a play-off it can come down to a little mistake and that can be the difference between being in or out, so for that reason I would say our chances are 50/50.
“The first leg is away and I think that´s what I would have chosen if it had been up to me.
"It gives us the opportunity to get a good result over there and then take it back to Sweden a few days later."
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