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

June 17, 2008 by Kerron · Leave a Comment

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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