The Swedish Football Association have confirmed via their official website and Twitter account, that national team manager Janne Andersson has tested positive for COVID-19. The news comes just hours before his team are due to travel to neighbours Denmark for an international friendly.
Janne Andersson Tests Positive for Covid-19
Swedish FA Statement
Earlier today, the Swedish Football Association released a statement: “Federal captain Janne Andersson has been in home quarantine since the end of last week since a close family member tested positive for COVID-19.
“Janne Andersson was tested again on Tuesday and today came the news that the test was positive.”
Team doctor Anders Valentin added: “Janne is feeling relatively well and continues to isolate himself at home.”
Sweden’s official Twitter account also broke the news:
📰 Janne Andersson har testats positivt för Covid-19
Läs mer 👉 https://t.co/7ZSiDaH6hF
Krya på dig Janne! 🙏#viärsverige pic.twitter.com/jQC5f7utHr
— Svensk Fotboll (@svenskfotboll) November 11, 2020
Assistant Will Replace Janne Andersson
Sweden are scheduled to play Denmark in a friendly on Wednesday, They will then face Croatia on Saturday and France next Tuesday in the Nations League. Andersson will miss all three games as he self-isolates and recovers from COVID-19. His assistant, Peter Wettergren, will therefore take charge. The former midfielder has been assistant manager of the Sweden national team since 2016. He was previously been assistant manager at IF Elfsborg and FC Copenhagen.
Sweden to Face Understrength Denmark Team
Sweden will be without their manager for the next three games. However, their opponents on Wednesday, neighbours Denmark, will be depleted due to COVID-19. SVT Sport have reported that the Danes will be without their manager, assistant and nine players due to being in isolation after one player tested positive.
Despite criticism, the friendly between the two nations will go ahead as planned. Björn Olsen, professor of infectious diseases believes that the match should not be played.
“It sounds like a strange event with some tangled teams with suspected infection in one just to play a training match – in the middle of a pandemic. It sounds easily bizarre Blow it off. Move it to another occasion.”
Following Wednesday’s game, Denmark will face two tough Nations League fixtures. They will face Iceland on Sunday followed by an away game next Wednesday in Belgium.
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