In Gothenburg, Sweden will be looking to keep the pressure on Group 8 leaders Croatia with an easy win against minnows Malta. Olof Mellberg, who missed much of Villa’s run-in with injury, is set for a return to action and would no doubt settle for the 7-0 victory his side recorded in the reverse fixture in September.
The CONMEBOL qualifiers could see Juan Pablo Angel and Nolberto Solano line up on opposing teams when Colombia face Peru. The two sides currently lie sixth and seventh, respectively, two points behind fifth and a play-off against the Australasia zone winners. Ulises de la Cruz’s Ecuador side look far more comfortable, lying third on 20 points, but they will struggle to get anything from their encounter with Argentina.