Euro 2008 Pre-match Analysis: Russia vs Sweden Live Online

Euro 2008 Group D, Matchday 3
Teams: Russia (3rd, 3/6pts) vs Sweden (2nd, 3/6pts)
Date and Time: Wednesday 18 June 2008, 20:45 CET
Venue: Tivoli-Neu Stadion, Innsbruck, Austria
Match Official: Frank de Bleeckere (BEL)

On the brink of qualification

The Swedes have not failed to qualify from a tournament’s opening stage in the last three attempts, their previous first round exit coming at Euro 2000 in Belgium and the Netherlands.

For Swedish coach Lars Lagerbäck, keeping this record going is priority number one. His mixture of youth and experience is so far on track, though, having picked up one win against Greece while suffering only the narrowest of defeats to Spain. Just a draw will see them past Russia, whose goal difference is inferior.

The Russians will need a win to qualify and with injury concerns added to the fact that Russia has only scored twice and conceded four times all in the same match against Spain. They were expected to beat Greece and they did but not convincingly. They won by 1-0 and Guus Hiddink’s men have not looked at all sharp in defense or creative enough to open up the Swedish defense.

A Look at the teams

Russia

Andrei Arshavin returns from suspension, although Coach Guus Hiddink is still undecided as to whether or not he wil include him in the lineup. Diniyar Bilyaletdinov is doubtful, although Yuri Zhirkov and Sergei Semak should shake off their respective knocks in time to make the match.

Possible Starting XI: Akinfeev; Anyukov, Kolodin, Ignashevich, Zhirkov; Torbinsky, Semak, Zyrianov, Saenko; Arshavin, Pavlyuchenko.

Sweden

Coach Lars Lagerbäck has pledged to put out his strongest possible team on the field, but Zlatan Ibrahimović is highly unlikely to last the full 90 minutes due to his knee injury. He may be used only as a substitute. Christian Wilhelmsson is out.

Possible Starting XI: Isaksson; Stoor, Mellberg, Hansson, Nilsson; Elmander, Svensson, Andersson, Ljungberg; Larsson, Rosenberg.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Russia

Andrei Arshavin: If he starts or comes off the bench, the long-serving Zenit St. Petersburg talent will surely be one of Russia’s main hopes to get the goal they so sorely need to move through to the next round. He’s netted three times during qualifying and will now hope for his first strike in Euro 2008, but against a defensive unit that seemed well organized against favorites Spain; it might be a task.

Sweden

Henrik Larsson: If Sweden lose here, it’s almost certainly Larsson’s final game in a Swedish shirt. As such the 36-year-old forward will need to use every ounce of his experience to help his team through to the knockout stages and with Ibrahimovic not fully fit he will need to be at his best.

PREDICTION

Sweden look to have done enough already, and an equalizing goal will see them through against a Russian side whose injuries and fitness concerns have ultimately proven to be their detriment. Sweden showed organization against Spain and should they play with the same level of urgency they will be in the knockout stages of Euro 2008.

Russia 1-2 Sweden

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Euro 2008 Pre-match Analysis: Sweden vs Spain Live Online

Euro 2008, Group D
Teams: Sweden v Spain
Date and Time: 18:00 CET – Saturday, June 14, 2008
Venue: Tivoli Neu, Innsbruck
Match Official: Pieter Vink (Holland)

Spain are preparing for their second group game against Sweden, while their supporters revel in their impressive opening. But their display against Russia may have caused the Swedes a little worry.

While trying not to be over confident, Spain will be looking for a victory against the Swedes. Their opening game’s performance was spectacular and confirmed why they are one of the tournament’s favorites. Even though the Spanish team is very young they seem to be ready psychologically to take their elusive place in soccer history.

Tomorrow’s game will be a true test of their depth and maturity and should the Spanish rise to the occasion and they will, Euro 2008 will see their first high scoring game.
The last team to beat Spain

These two teams know each other well as they met in the qualifiers for Euro 2008 and it was Sweden that took control of the group when they won 2-0 in October, 2006.

That result saw Aragonés opt to make a major decision, after it came on the back of defeat in Northern Ireland, and he dropped all the veterans that he allegedly felt were undermining his authority.

Spain avenged their defeat to the Swedes in November last year when a 3-0 victory in the Bernabéu was enough to book their place to Austria and Switzerland.

Sweden was the last team to beat the Spanish and will have a psychological advantage as Spain looks to be in a rampant mood.

A Look at the teams

Niklas Alexanersson has joined Deportivo’s Christian Wilhelmsson on the injury list and will miss the game against Spain. Coach Lagerbäck is expected to call on Fredrik Stoor to replace him. Also with Wilhelmsson’s absent, the competition may see Sebastian Larsson making his first start.

David Villa dislocated his finger celebrating his second goal and Torres refused to shake Aragonés’ hand, but despite all the rumours surrounding of both incidents, both players are fit and will reclaim their places in what is expected to be an unchanged starting eleven.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sweden
Henrik Larsson – The veteran striker could use his skill, experience and wits to unlock a Spanish defense that looked shaky against Russia. He will certainly know be familiar with Carlos Puyol and the rest of the Spanish defensive unit and his role will be to create space for the powerful ans skillful Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Spain
David Villa – After getting a hat trick in the opener against Russia, the Valencia striker has made his name a house hold name in Spain and will certainly see this game as an opportunity to increase his tally and who can argue with him.

PREDICTIONS

This game will be a lot more difficult for Spain than people believe, but the players will be expecting a challenging ninety minutes. The Swedes will have analyzed Spain’s strengths and weaknesses based on their previous game and will have made the necessary preparations. However, this Spanish team looks to be in a very confident mood and will see this game as an opportunity to send a message to both their critics and their prospective quarter-final opponents.

Sweden 2 – 4 Spain

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