Anthony Elanga looks set to start on the bench for Sweden's World Cup opener against Tunisia after a photo appeared to show a reserve lineup with him listed as a striker. That leaves Sweden's attack leaning toward a different front line on Monday, with Elanga under a little more scrutiny after a difficult first season at Newcastle United.
Elanga's club campaign offered little to push for an automatic place. He failed to score in the Premier League all season for Newcastle United, finished with one goal across the whole campaign, and that strike came in the League Cup tie against Man City.
Seb Larsson's 4-4-2
During Sweden's preparations, Seb Larsson was pictured with a 4-4-2 shape that included Elanga as a striker. Sportbladet said the image appeared to show the reserve line-up for Sweden's Tunisia clash, which would point to a different attacking plan if it reflected the final selection.
That plan had Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres in attack together, with Benjamin Nygren potentially out wide. If that shape holds, Elanga is not the lead option for the opener; he is part of the second group waiting behind the main pairing.
Greece and the knee scare
The bench call also sits against the backdrop of a knee scare against Greece earlier in the week. Elanga clashed knees with an opponent, needed treatment after going down in a heap, and was reportedly taken to hospital for tests.
He later eased some of that concern himself: "When you get pain in your knee, you can get worried, but it feels good. It feels calm. The pain will go away in a day or two. It's completely okay."
Whether Elanga starts or sits against Tunisia will be settled before Monday's opener, but the picture already points in one direction. Sweden appear ready to keep their £55million winger on standby, with the striker role looking more crowded than his club season suggested it would be.
