Sweden struck a balance between youth and experience when they named their World Cup 23-man squad today, picking midfielder Hakan Mild who played in the Swedish team that reached the 1994 semi-finals.
Barcelona defender and regular Sweden captain Patrik Andersson, who is set to return to action soon after an 11-week absence due to a knee injury, is also in the squad.
Sweden, unbeaten in their past 18 international matches, are drawn with Argentina, England and Nigeria in the toughest opening group of the finals, which start on May 31st.
"You know that you'll meet strong opponents in a World Cup. This time we got some extra tough opponents (in the group phase) and it will not be any easier if we advance in the tournament," coach Lars Lagerback told a news conference.
"We have chosen different types of players in order to be able to alter the pace and flow of a match, if we are ahead or if we are trailing, but we will not change our basic way of playing," Lagerback said.
Wimbledon's Mild, 30, has not represented his country since November due to a groin injury. With four goals in as many games this season, AIK Stockholm midfielder Andreas Andersson has also been included.
Fellow coach Tommy Soderberg said Sweden's initial aim in the tournament in Japan and South Korea was to play "three very good matches".
"Everyone must take part in defence and I hope that we will be able to spring a few surprises up front," Soderberg said.
The two top teams from each group go through to the last 16 knock-out stage. Sweden, who finished third in 1994, will play a warm-up against Paraguay at home in Stockholm on May 17th and the team will travel to Japan on May 20th.
The Swedes meet Japan in their last friendly on May 25th and open their World Cup adventure against England on June 2nd.
Goalkeepers: 1-Magnus Hedman (Coventry), 12-Magnus Kihlstedt (FC Copenhagen), 23-Andreas Isaksson (Djurgarden)
Defenders: 2-Olof Mellberg (Aston Villa), 3-Patrik Andersson (FC Barcelona), 4-Johan Mjallby (Celtic), 5-Michael Svensson (Troyes), 13-Tomas Antonelius (FC Copenhagen), 14-Erik Edman (Herenveen), 15-Andreas Jakobsson (Hansa Rostock), 16-Teddy Lucic (AIK)
Midfielders/forwards: 6-Tobias Linderoth (Everton), 7-Niclas Alexandersson (Everton), 8-Anders Svensson (Southampton), 9-Fredrik Ljungberg (Arsenal), 10-Macus Allback (Heerenveen), 11-Henrik Larsson (Celtic), 17-Magnus Svensson (Brondby), 18-Mattias Jonsson (Brondby), 19-Hakan Mild (Wimbledon), Andreas Andersson (AIK), 20-Daniel Andersson (Venezia), 21-Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Ajax), 22-Andreas Andersson (AIK)