EKDAL READY FOR INTERNATIONAL DERBY EXPERIENCE

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Defender looks ahead to June friendlies with Denmark and Serbia

2024-06-05T08:00:00.000Z

EKDAL READY FOR INTERNATIONAL DERBY EXPERIENCE

Defender looks ahead to June friendlies with Denmark and Serbia

2024-06-05T08:00:00.000Z

Defender looks ahead to June friendlies with Denmark and Serbia

Hjalmar Ekdal insists it's 'more than just a game' as Sweden gear up for Wednesday night's meeting with Denmark in Copenhagen, as the Blue & Yellow's take on their Scandinavian neighbours.

Although the fixture is a friendly, the centre-back is well aware that both sets of teams, supporters and countries will be up for it with both sides aiming to claim the bragging rights.

The trip to Denmark is the first of Sweden's two June friendlies, as Ekdal and his teammates will then host Serbia at the Friends Arena on Saturday to round off their international programme.

"It's more than just a game this one. All the fans are really involved in the game and both sets of supporters really want to win the game to show who the best team in Scandinavia is!

"We know it's only a friendly fixture, but it will be an amazing atmosphere. These types of games are always great from both sets of fans. Our supporters are loud and make an atmosphere every game, but in Denmark it's going to be really really noisy.

"We are all looking forward to the game, especially with our new coach who is Danish, I think he would really like to win that game. It will also be fun if Jacob (Bruun Larsen) is in the squad and coming up against him would be good.

"I think there is going to be a lot of our supporters there to support us on the day and I think it's going to be a fun experience overall, in what is an important rivalry meeting between us."

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The 25-year-old, who has six senior caps to his name, added: "It's always an honour to come back to Sweden, see all my teammates and train together.

"It's a different environment when you come away with the international team and it's always fun to be named & involved in the squad to represent your country. I'm looking forward to it."

There was a 10-day break following the season ending and Ekdal linking up with his Sweden team prior to the June friendly fixtures, but after an injury-hit campaign for the Clarets the defender says he is eager to get going again.

"I think I would prefer to get straight at it after the season ends and not have like a mini break that we have in between before starting again, because then I feel like you have to keep the physical side going to keep ticking over before going away.

"Also the mental side of it, you can't really switch off fully as you know you're going away in a week, but I'm feeling good and ready to get going again before then coming back for pre-season in a few weeks."