Kiese-Thelin misses sitter as Sweden are held to goalless draw by Denmark

On a balmy evening, both sides took the opportunity to ease some players back into the fold in a feisty friendly featuring plenty of direct football and a few meaty challenges.

With Christian Eriksen at home in Denmark with his partner as they await the birth of their first child, Michael Krohn-Dehli was given the role of playmaker but he was well-shackled by the Swedish defence.

Forsberg’s best effort came late in the game with a mazy dribble to tee up Kiese-Thelin, but his first-time shot flew harmlessly over the crossbar.

Denmark midfielder William Kvist has been out of favour recently at FC Copenhagen but he quickly slotted into a defensive role alongside Thomas Delaney to cancel out the creative threat of Emil Forsberg.

Sweden’s first-choice goalkeeper Robin Olsen, who plays for Danish side FC Copenhagen, showed no ill effects from the broken collar bone he sustained in February, getting down smartly on the half-hour mark to save a stinging shot from Pione Sisto.

Operating from the wings, Sisto and Yussuf Poulsen showed glimpses of the electric pace that Denmark can call on in Russia when they kick off their World Cup Group C campaign against Peru at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk on June 16.

Two days later Sweden face South Korea in their Group F opener in Nizhny Novgorod.