Watford's Joel Ekstrand withdraws from Sweden squad ahead of Argentina clash

10:24am Monday 4th February 2013 in Latest Sport By Tom Bodell

Picture: Holly Cant Picture: Holly Cant

Watford defender Joel Ekstrand has withdrawn from the Sweden squad for their friendly against Argentina on Wednesday.

Ekstrand was replaced by Nyron Nosworthy after 78 minutes of Watford’s 2-1 victory over Bolton Wanderers on Saturday with a knee complaint and will undergo a scan today.

The defender, on-loan from Udinese, had been in contention to win his second full cap for Sweden after making his debut in a friendly against Syria in 2010.

The Swedish Football Association has since confirmed that the 24 year-old has been replaced in coach Erik Hamren’s squad by Rasmus Bengtsson of Dutch Club FC Twente.

Comments(14)

jasonwatford says...
11:17am Mon 4 Feb 13

Dont worry Joel you will get another chance playing for your country

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mkhornet says...
11:20am Mon 4 Feb 13

Let's hope that it's not too serious, he's been outstanding in that defence.

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Travelling Hornet says...
11:20am Mon 4 Feb 13

Shame for the player, I bet he's really hacked off, also not good for us , also!
He was an integral part of our back three.

Who have we got to replace him?
Oh yes, Hoban, Neuton or Nosworthy!!!

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HemelHornet says...
11:52am Mon 4 Feb 13

Feel sorry for the lad, he deserved his place. But when he regains his fitness if he keeps putting in performances like he has been it wont be long before Sweden come calling again!

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exeterhornet says...
12:10pm Mon 4 Feb 13

Let's hope for a "Lazarus" moment on Thursday when our Norse friend makes a miraculous recovery and plays on Friday. After all, Ryan Giggs has "Lazarused" for years (could there be such a verb?)

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Guy Bov says...
12:40pm Mon 4 Feb 13

Hope he recovers in time for Friday, Been seriously impressed with him this season.

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JonBoy says...
1:21pm Mon 4 Feb 13

This is when a strong squad is iseful

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lutondown says...
1:26pm Mon 4 Feb 13

Hope it's the old Fergie trick, and he rolls out Friday

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andyhooked says...
4:17pm Mon 4 Feb 13

It is sad news for Joel but we all hope things are not tooo bad for him. He had to wait to break into the first XI but has done so well. With Lloyd in such good form perhaps Hoban but not thus far that impressed with Neuton. Must beat Palace to have braging rights over one of my best friends (she can't help it she blames her Dad for getting into Palace)

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Meadey39 says...
6:31pm Mon 4 Feb 13

I am sure after a good rest he will be back for Friday night

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Roger Joslyn says...
2:16am Tue 5 Feb 13

I think a win is on the cards for the 'orns on Friday. As the Sky camera's will be there I don't think Palarse will won't to sit back and look boring as it wouldn't send out a great message to others about their own push for promotion. So an open game at the vic on Friday and that can only mean one thing........."and Abdi puts Vydra through and he finishes it to the keeper's near post....Watford 3 Palarse 0"

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OliverF1976 says...
5:39pm Tue 5 Feb 13

Great stuff.....seriously we are talking about a club paying a players wages and then see him swan off to play a mickey mouse friendly against an Argentina B team when we have a massive game to play which could be an important part of a journey towards millions of pounds. I would imagine he will be playing on Friday. We have nursed Tommie Hoban back to fitness after several weeks out to see him go off to play two games in two days for his country without playing for us since injury, it's not right and these friendlies anger me during the season. We are going to see Vydra, Chalobah, Pudil, Nosworthy(only just come back from being injured for Jamaica last time) and Hoban go off and probably come back crocked or tired and either won't feature on Friday or won't be at their best. Some will say that is the price you pay for having good players in your team but having a game on Friday is just an added kick in the teeth. The negatives far outweigh the positives as far as I am concerned. Yes you can waffle on about the morale of the player and the experience of international football bla bla bla but the bottom lime is we lose them for a very very important game. Frustrating

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lutondown says...
5:43pm Tue 5 Feb 13

OliverF1976 wrote:
Great stuff.....seriously we are talking about a club paying a players wages and then see him swan off to play a mickey mouse friendly against an Argentina B team when we have a massive game to play which could be an important part of a journey towards millions of pounds. I would imagine he will be playing on Friday. We have nursed Tommie Hoban back to fitness after several weeks out to see him go off to play two games in two days for his country without playing for us since injury, it's not right and these friendlies anger me during the season. We are going to see Vydra, Chalobah, Pudil, Nosworthy(only just come back from being injured for Jamaica last time) and Hoban go off and probably come back crocked or tired and either won't feature on Friday or won't be at their best. Some will say that is the price you pay for having good players in your team but having a game on Friday is just an added kick in the teeth. The negatives far outweigh the positives as far as I am concerned. Yes you can waffle on about the morale of the player and the experience of international football bla bla bla but the bottom lime is we lose them for a very very important game. Frustrating
Agreed but better than having a team of low league standard methinks

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Goldenboy1960 says...
7:09pm Tue 5 Feb 13

I think Ekstrand will be a top player. He can defend 1v1, he is quick and can play off two feet, he can head a ball and tackle. I think at times he needs to be a little more aggressive but he is strong and has quick feet. He is absolute quality and will be sorely mised if he is not fit.

The handicap of having all these players is that we lose them to International duty. But Zola believes they are as good as each other so we will see again following the defeats against Charlton and Bristol.

Heard a Watford fan on Sports Talk this morning and sorry chaps but I agreed with him. Living in Newcastle he pointed to their love of French players and ours of nearly all of our team coming from the Udinese squad. Clearly limiting on our national team in the long term.

And why isn't Chalobah in Chelsea's first team he is well good enough. This nonsense about not playing them too young really gets to me. If they are good enough they are old enough. Rooney was 15 when he made his debut at Everton.

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