Sweden midfielder Sebastian Larsson believes English referee Howard
Webb will not fall for Portugal’s “tricks” when the two countries meet
in the second leg of their World Cup play-off.
Webb is in charge for Tuesday’s tie in Solna, with Portugal having
defeated Sweden 1-0 in Friday’s first leg.
“We have an English referee now so we can probably go in a bit
harder,” said Sunderland player Larsson.
“I do not think he is going to fall for the same tricks so easily.”
Cristiano Ronaldo headed Portugal’s late winner in the first leg, but
the Real Madrid forward also won a number of free-kicks.
“Howard Webb is used to refereeing where the game is a little more
physical,” added Larsson. “He’s a great referee, too, which is
important for such a big game.”
Portugal coach Paulo Bento believes his team will have to overcome
“enormous difficulties” as they try to hold on to their slender
advantage.
“We’ll have to be tactically and mentally prepared because we’ll face
90 minutes of suffering to reach our objective,” said Bento.
“I think it will be a similar situation to our own, when we try to
stop the organisation of Sweden and us having in mind of course trying
to stop [Sweden forward Zlatan] Ibrahimovic.”
After his goal proved the difference in the first leg, Ronaldo said he
is expecting “a battle”.
“Portugal have a small advantage and we are expecting a very difficult
game, but we are ready,” said former Manchester United forward
Ronaldo.
“We will have to be fully focused. More than anything else, these
players want to be in Brazil, so we will give our best to get there.”
Sweden boss Erik Hamren’s contract expires at the end of the year and
he knows this could be his last match in charge of the national side
if they fail to reach Brazil.
“I expect drama to the very end,” he said.
“I would like us to score an early goal, or really preferably two. But
we won’t get stressed if we don’t deliver in the first half.
“I expect a really tough game because they are a good team. We need to
be better in our offence than we were in the second half in Lisbon.”
He added: “It’s happened to me a few times before as a club coach,
when you know that if you lose a game there’s not much left of the
job.
“But I’m not thinking about that one bit. My focus is on succeeding.
If we do succeed, we don’t need to discuss it.” – BBC Sport
