Chile coach Rueda hails players after victory over Sweden

STOCKHOLM, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Chile coach Reinaldo Rueda heaped praise on his team after a 2-1 friendly victory over Sweden on Saturday.

Debutant Marcos Bolados came off the bench to score the winner after Ola Toivonen canceled out Arturo Vidal's superb long-range volley at Friends Arena, just north of Stockholm.

"It's very positive and comforting to know that we are in a transition, with players benefiting from the work they are putting in and showing personality against a strong rival," said Rueda, who was taking charge of Chile for the first time in an international fixture.

The former Colombia, Honduras and Ecuador national coach added: "We can certainly improve but the important thing is that in this group [of players] there is talent and potential."

Rueda began a four-year contract with the Roja last month, replacing Juan Antonio Pizzi, who departed in October after the team failed to qualify for this year's World Cup in Russia.

Sweden have been drawn in Group F for the June 14-July 15 tournament alongside Germany, Mexico and South Korea.

Chile will next face Denmark at Copenhagen's Aalborg Stadium on Tuesday while Sweden will visit Romania for a clash in Craiova on the same day. Enditem