SWEDEN
FIFA World Ranking: 18
Previous Best: SF 1992
Last 5 Euros (Latest first): Groups-Groups-Groups-QF-Groups
How Qualified: Runners Up Group F
Qualifying Record: P10 W6 D3 L1 F23 A9 GD14 Pts21
Tournament Odds: 100/1
Squad
Goalkeepers: Karl-Johan Johnsson (København), Kristoffer Nordfeldt (Gençlerbirliği), Robin Olsen (Everton)
Defenders: Ludwig Augustinsson (Werder Bremen), Pierre Bengtsson (Vejle), Marcus Danielson (Dalian Yifang), Andreas Granqvist (Helsingborg), Filip Helander (Rangers), Pontus Jansson (Brentford), Emil Krafth (Newcastle United), Victor Lindelöf (Manchester United), Mikael Lustig (AIK)
Midfielders: Jens-Lys Cajuste (Midtjylland), Viktor Claesson (Krasnodar), Albin Ekdal (Sampdoria), Emil Forsberg (Leipzig), Dejan Kulusevski (Juventus), Sebastian Larsson (AIK), Kristoffer Olsson (Krasnodar), Robin Quaison (Mainz), Ken Sema (Watford), Mattias Svanberg (Bologna), Gustav Svensson (Guangzhou)
Forwards: Marcus Berg (Krasnodar), Alexander Isak (Real Sociedad), Jordan Larsson (Spartak Moskva)
Group Fixtures
June 14 vs Spain (8pm – Seville)
June 18 vs Slovakia (2pm – St Petersburg)
June 23 vs Poland (5pm – St Petersburg)
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History
The best run Sweden have had in the European Championships was back in 1992 when they hosted the competition. They broke England hearts on their way to the semi-final that year with Tomas Brolin and Anders Limpar stars of the show. Despite having Zlatan Ibrahimovic in their ranks for a long time since then they have only been out of the group once since the turn of the century, however a run to the quarter finals of the last World Cup has increased optimism among the yellow army that they can make sufficient progress here.
Qualifying
Sweden were probably always second favourites to make it through their qualifying group given that they landed a section which included Spain so credit goes to them for doing exactly that. They overcame the dangerous challenge of the likes of Norway and Romania to seal second spot, which was probably the best that they could have asked for at that time. Their only defeat in the group was away to Spain so really it could be said that they qualified very well when you consider how competitive the section could have been. Mainz midfielder Robin Quaison top scored for them in qualifying with five goals.
Pandemic Effect
You would have said the pandemic induced delay would have been perfect for Sweden with Zlatan Ibrahimovic due to be available for them in this competition but an injury to their superstar attack rendered that irrelevant so really it isn’t going to make a huge amount of difference now. The one thing you would say is that in the last 12 months they have been relegated from their Nations League group although they were in with three of the best in the world in that. World Cup qualifying has started well so they should be in a decent place despite the delay.
Strengths
Sweden are always a tough side to beat. They only dropped one match in their qualifying group and while they were outclassed in their Nations League group, we do need to take that with an ounce of a pinch of salt in that we don’t know exactly how motivated or otherwise they were for that section. They are defensively resolute but they might offer up a little more going forward than they have done in previous tournaments.
Weaknesses
Sweden don’t have the strongest squad in terms of depth that they have ever had. There is the feeling that they lack a commanding presence at the heart of the defence. Victor Lindelof has had good games for Manchester United but you sense he is a player who needs a leader alongside him and they are few and far between in this squad. They look a little light in the full-back area as well and that is a position in the game which has gained in importance in recent times.
Manager
Janne Andersson has been in charge of Sweden for five years after he took charge after a low key showing at the previous European Championship. He has already taken them to a World Cup quarter final and hopes are high that he can do something similar in this tournament. Before taking charge of Sweden, Andersson took Norrkoping to the Allsvenskan title in 2015 so he has a decent coaching pedigree. He is a defensively minded coach but one who isn’t averse to using the attacking talent at his disposal. His record in charge of Sweden reads: P55 W28 D10 L17.
Key Players
Emil Forsberg went into the World Cup with a blossoming reputation but the Leipzig attacker didn’t really impress how he was expected to so he’ll be out to do that here instead which not only makes him a danger but also a key player for the Swedes in this tournament. Real Sociedad forward Alexander Isak is another player who will be expected to go well. This could also be the breakthrough tournament for Jordan Larsson, son of Swedish great Henrik.
Team Bets
Sweden head into the tournament in pretty good touch despite their indifferent UEFA Nations League campaign. They have won their opening two World Cup qualifiers and look to be a nation who are progressing nicely once again. They are always a tough side to beat but there is a little more flair in their ranks these days and that could prove to be the difference for them in getting out of the groups and being competitive and not.
This side do know how to navigate their way through a tournament draw having reached the quarter final of the last World Cup in Russia and I think they might be an ounce of value to repeat that feat in this tournament. If they come out of the group in first or second they will face maybe Croatia in the last 16 in what will be like a home game for them in Copenhagen and if they win the group they will face a third placed side. Either way there is every chance they come through that round of 16 match but then it looks like it would be France or England in the quarter finals which might be beyond them. There is an ounce of mileage in the 9/2 that Sweden go out in the last eight once again.
Tips
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