SWEDEN boss Janne Andersson has revealed his wife has given him a dressing down over his late substitutions.
But he is sticking to his guns – and is ready to use his side’s height advantage to give the Ukrainians an aerial bombardment.
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Having surprised all by finishing top of a group that included Spain and Poland, the Swedes are loving life in the knock-out stages.
It is the first time Sweden have made the Last 16 of the Euros since 1992 – where they managed to reach the semi-finals.
And the Yellow Army are favourites to progress to the quarters against a struggling Ukraine outfit, but there is no pleasing some people – including Andersson’s wife Ulrika.
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Andersson said: “My wife likes to say that I make my substitutions too late but you are allowed to think what you like.
“My principle is the starting XI should have the chance to do their jobs. It will only be a certain circumstance that I will make early subs.
“The players we have subbed on have done really well and it is a relief to have that option off the bench.
“Maybe she doesn’t fully understand how I like to coach the team.”
My wife likes to say that I make my substitutions too late but you are allowed to think what you like
Janne Andersson
Away from the criticism, Andersson is so confident in his tactics to beat Andriy Shevchenko’s Ukraine side that he is open to reveal his master plan – the height advantage.
Sweden have SEVEN players in their squad who are 6ft3 and taller – and four of them started their last group game victory over Poland.
Ukraine on the other hand have just TWO players who of a similar height or bigger – and one of those is keeper Heorhiy Bushchan.
Yet Sweden surprisingly are yet to score from a header so far this tournament.
Andersson is ready to unleash his giants on the Euros to rectify this, and could even start more of his stretchy Swedes in tomorrow’s clash.
He said: “We have a height advantage so we want to take advantage of that. We haven’t been able to score as many as we would like from set pieces.
“We have been working through them in training, and I am happy with my set piece takers as they are both fantastic. I hope we get our rewards.”
Having played two of their three home games in Russia, Sweden have now had to travel to Scotland to play at Hampden Park for their Last 16 tie.
And with the majority of Swedish fans unable to attend, Andersson raged: “It is really weird and strange that they decide to host the game where our supporters are not allowed to join.
“It is the same for Ukraine too. In my view it is the wrong decision from UEFA.”
Sweden midfielder Sebastian Larsson added: “I have tried three times to get to the Last 16 of the Euros and this is the first time.
“We are not going to get as many Swedish fans as we would like to mark the moment and that is strange.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
