Sweden vs. Brazil: Swedes Will Feel Wrath of Selecao's Olympic Failure

The last side any country should want to face right now is Brazil. Sorry, Sweden, but you got the unlucky draw.

May the force be with you.

The Brazilians are surely smarting after a 2-1 loss to Mexico in the gold-medal game at the 2012 London Olympics. And despite the fact that Olympic squads are U-23 with three exceptions, the majority of that team also comprises Brazil's starting XI.

Neymar may claim he's "happy" with a silver medal, but don't believe him. What competitor is satisfied finishing second, namely in Brazil, which has never won gold in soccer?

Paulo Henrique Ganso, Bruno Uvini and Marcelo won't be available for Brazil, but Sweden will still have to deal with Neymar, Hulk, Oscar, Thiago Silva and Leandro Damiao. It's never fun to deal with Brazil's young talents—especially on the heels of a failure to win a gold medal.

Plus, Sweden won't exactly be full strength for this one. Kim Kallstrom and Emir Bajrami are out, and star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is questionable for the game.

Without Ibra, Sweden would be in serious trouble. Well, it'd probably even be in trouble with him in this game, but it's an especially tall task without him.

The game will be a home match for the Swedes, and a game with a serious amount of history behind it. From the Associated Press (via the Boston Herald):

"

Wednesday’s friendly is a farewell bid to Rasunda, an aging stadium that hosted the 1958 World Cup final between Brazil and Sweden. Several of the players from both squads will be present, including Pele, who scored two goals as Brazil won 5-2 to clinch its first of five World Cup titles.

"

Home or not, history suggests the Swedes will drop this friendly. In 14 meetings against the Brazilians, Sweden has managed just two wins and three draws, losing nine contests.

Surely, Sweden will have some motivation as well. It was disappointing in this summer's European Championships, failing to advance past the group stage, and it'll want to get itself back on track heading into World Cup qualifying.

And Brazil didn't look particularly compelling before the Olympics in friendlies, losing to Mexico (2-0) and Argentina (4-3). This is a young Brazilian team that can be shaky in the back—it is beatable.

But it is also capable of taking the smallest mistakes and instantly capitalizing. Few teams can turn a game's momentum faster than the Brazilians, making them a must-watch when they play and a must-fear for their opponents.

That doesn't bode well for Sweden. Nor does Brazil's recent Olympics disappointment. Look for the Brazilians to cruise, winning 3-1.

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