Freddie Ljungberg is working hard to be back playing for the start of the 2008 European Championship which gets under way in just under a month's time.
The West Ham United midfielder has been recovering from a broken rib suffered against Newcastle United on 26 April but despite the injury he is determined to be ready by the time Sweden kick off their finals campaign. In a vote of confidence, he was named this week in the 23-man squad. "The pain has been quite extreme," said Ljungberg. "It's been difficult taking deep breaths and it hurts even when I just turn my body. I have been on painkillers however, and I'm getting better and better.
"I have slowly started to try to jog and have even cycled a little. The healing process so far has been all according to the prognosis by our medical staff which is encouraging. I am very much looking forward to being fit for the tournament." As captain of his country, Ljungberg has extra motivation to make it for his fifth major finals and, with strikers Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrik Larsson to feed off his service, he believes there is no reason why the country cannot aim high.
He said: "First our goal is to advance from the group. That itself will be a challenge and then if we succeed we can set new goals. That will all depend on how the draw works out. But I don't think it is unrealistic to say we have a chance of winning the whole tournament. Greece showed in 2004 that anything can happen." With the Scandinavian nation getting under way against the champions from four years ago on 10 June, Ljungberg has extra incentive to be raring to go as soon as possible.