Hjalmar Ekdal faces potential World Cup clash with Burnley teammate after earning call up
Burnley’s Hjalmar Ekdal has been named in Sweden’s squad for this summer’s World Cup.
The 27-year-old is included in a 26-man squad that features a host of other Premier League names, such as Gabriel Gudmundsson (Leeds United), Victor Lindelof (Manchester United), Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham), Alexander Isak (Liverpool) and Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal).
Ekdal’s involvement raises the prospect of an all-Burnley affair in Sweden’s first group game, which comes against Hannibal’s Tunisia on June 15.
Netherlands and Japan also make up the remainder of Group F.
Sweden actually failed to secure qualification through the traditional route, having failed to win any of their six qualifiers – finishing bottom in a group that included Slovenia, Kosovo and group winners Switzerland.
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But a successful Nations League campaign secured their passage into the play-offs, where they beat Ukraine 3-1 in a semi-final before edging past Poland 3-2 in their decider.
Ekdal didn’t feature in either game, with his last international cap for his country coming back in September during a 2-0 defeat to Kosovo.
But capped 11 times by Sweden, the centre-back will be hoping to feature at this summer’s showpiece event in North America.
The defender has been in and out of Burnley’s team for much of the season, making 21 appearances in all competitions.
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