Sweden national football team (Blagult)

With a population of less than ten million, Sweden has performed with great distinction on the world and European stage at club and country level.

They have traditionally been a strong team in international circles, notably with eleven World Cup finals appearances and three medals in the Olympics.

The Swedish team finished as runners-up in the 1958 World Cup, when it was the host nation, being beaten by the great Brazil team notably featuring a young Pele in the final.

The 1958 tournament was especially important for Swedish football as professionalism was finally allowed in the national team.

Since the formation of the Svenska Fotbollforbundet (Swedish FA) in 1904, the national teams had retained an amateur status.

Their World Cup record shows that they have also finished third in 1950 (in Brazil) and 1994 (in USA). In 1938 (in France), they finished fourth.

The Swedes made their first appearance in the European Championship finals in 1992 on home soil. Under coach Tommy Svensson, they reached the semi-finals.

After missing out on Euro 96, Sweden have since qualified for the last four European Championships finals.