Match #15 :: Sweden v Spain :: Saturday 14 June [R]

[unclesox]

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/7838/swedennationalfootballtjy5.jpg http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/228/selesptr6pl2.jpg

Saturday kickoff
Innsbruck - Tivoli Neu
18:00 Central European / 12noon North American eastern


Standings
Spain ........ 3 ... 4:1
Sweden ..... 3 ... 2:0
Greece ...... 0 ... 0:2
Russia ....... 0 ... 1:4


Recent form (last five international results)
- SWEDEN: DLWLW
2-0 Greece (EURO)
0-1 Ukraine (H)
1-0 Slovenia (H)
0-1 Brazil (N)
0-0 Turkey (A)
- SPAIN: WWWWW
4-1 Russia (EURO)
1-0 United States (H)
2-1 Peru (H)
1-0 Italy (H)
1-0 France (H)



Last meeting between teams
17 November 2007
EURO 2008 qualifier in Madrid
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Spain 3-0 Sweden
1-0 Capdevila 13'
2-0 Iniesta 38'
3-0 Sergio Ramos 64'


History
Played: 12
Sweden wins: 3
Spain wins: 5
Draws: 4
Goals scored: Sweden 14, Spain 19

[TechFootball85]

Pretty much intriguing tie. Winner of this game, without a doubt, will top group D. But I expect each side ends up with 1 point. The final score will be 2-2.

Keys for each side.

1. Spain needs to limit Ljungberg. Against the defending champ, Ljunberg was everywhere he needed to be, made some great runs, and showed his brilliance all night long. As Spain had some defensive lapses against the Russians, they better fix them as soon as possible. They only have three days to do so.

2. Sweden needs to disrupt Spain's movement and free-flowing passing game. The weapons just showed how dangerous it can be, especially when the Spaniards countered. Villa and Torres don't miss their chances.

[SectionX]

Pretty much intriguing tie. Winner of this game, without a doubt, will top group D. But I expect each side ends up with 1 point. The final score will be 2-2.

Keys for each side.

1. Spain needs to limit Ljungberg. Against the defending champ, Ljunberg was everywhere he needed to be, made some great runs, and showed his brilliance all night long. As Spain had some defensive lapses against the Russians, they better fix them as soon as possible. They only have three days to do so.

2. Sweden needs to disrupt Spain's movement and free-flowing passing game. The weapons just showed how dangerous it can be, especially when the Spaniards countered. Villa and Torres don't miss their chances.

well said. Sweden's allaround game is much worse than spain, but sweden got a secret weapon in zlatan ibrahimovic who can settle a much of his own.

[Big balls]

The 2 teams met in the Euro qualifier. 2-0 in Stockholm, 3-0 in Madrid. The numbers reflected the games, Spain was better in Madrid than Sweden was in Stockholm.

Spain was awesome today and a draw would be great for us. Before the Euro kicked off, my 2 favorites for the EC champion were Germany and Spain. This Spanish team is absolutely sick, greatest midfield on the planet. Excellent goalkeeper, Torres who's been on fire.

I won't predict a result. Sweden can beat any team as they've shown in previous EC/WC. Against this Spanish team, I'd be very very happy with a draw. Sweden has everything to win from this match.

[Shichinin]

well said. Sweden's allaround game is much worse than spain, but sweden got a secret weapon in zlatan ibrahimovic who can settle a much of his own.

I think the secret is out. :D

Anyway, the kind of simple defensive errors that we saw v Greece can not happen v Spain, unless Sweden wants to hand Spain 3 points without a fight. We were lucky that Greece are as pointless as a dull spoon, and cannot score except off a set piece. Hansson, Alex:son, and Andersson (remember his mistake at the end), especially, need to wisen up real quick.

I would like to see Stoor instead of Alex, and Källström instead of Andersson so we can have a semblance of a passing game. It would be interesting to learn Linderoth's status at the moment, if he will be available as well.

Poor Wilhelmsson. His injury last night was so unnecessary. It looked like he tried to outrun himself, and then - snap.

[Glenn Stromberg]

This game got a draw written all over it, when two teams with recent wins face each other in the second game both teams are satisfied with a point.

[Shichinin]

This game got a draw written all over it, when two teams with recent wins face each other in the second game both teams are satisfied with a point.

You forget that Spain is a class above most teams. It will take a huge match from all involved (like v. Italy in 2004) if Sweden is to take a point away here.

[TechFootball85]

Both sides have great strikers. (Ibrahimovic and Villa) Should be very entertaining game.

[drahnier]

Sweden games usually aren't "entertaining" in the traditional sense of the word, because against better teams Sweden does all they can to avoid it being entertaining, and against worse teams Sweden aren't good enough to create the entertainment themselves.

There will only be a lot of free-flowing attacking football if Spain wins comfortably.

[D0M0]

Spain has best midfield and best forwards. Sweden is good but not excellent team. As it was said earlier their best weapon is Ibrahimovic who sometimes plays and sometimes not. I predict hard game, but i guess in the end Spain will win.

[Bernabeu]

You forget that Spain is a class above most teams. It will take a huge match from all involved (like v. Italy in 2004) if Sweden is to take a point away here.

Maybe you mean the Spanish players, not the Spanish team. Individually they are very skilled. When playing for Spain, they always fail, and that is what finally counts. Spain has been playing awful the last many years' qualifying rounds. I don't even watch the games, they are boring and poor. Sweden has a much better history in terms of national team in the World Cups being a much smaller and cold country. It wouldn't be a surprise to me and anyone if Spain didn't win.

[SectionX]

zlatan is injured and wont play todays match because sweden assume we will lose against spain and save him for russia instead :(

[Bernabeu]

zlatan is injured and wont play todays match because sweden assume we will lose against spain and save him for russia instead :(

No way. Is that true? You made my day!

How can Sweden assume that Spain will win when they defeated us 2-0 very recently in Stockholm in the qualifiers and here we all think that it's a 50-50% situation?

[dmar]

No way. Is that true? You made my day!

How can Sweden assume that Spain will win when they defeated us 2-0 very recently in Stockholm in the qualifiers and here we all think that it's a 50-50% situation?

To be fair, that happenned in Spetember 2006, IIRC, when our players were still somewhat unfit because our late start of the season. We beat them in the Bernabeu 3-0 a few months ago and they didn't look that good then.

Anyway, I don't believe Zlatan not playing.

[Bernabeu]

To be fair, that happenned in Spetember 2006, IIRC, when our players were still somewhat unfit because our late start of the season. We beat them in the Bernabeu 3-0 a few months ago and they didn't look that good then.

Ok, 60-40%? Still, it's not like playing against San Marino. I mean, we know we are favorites but we know we can very well lose and we'll live it with high tension. If Ibrahimovic doesn't play we'll feel much more relaxed, definetely.

[dmar]

Agreed, and that's why I don't believe it.

[glennaldo_sf]

Spain looked good against Russia but Sweden will be a much, much tougher test. Like Croatia and Romania, Sweden know how to raise their game when facing technically superior opposition. I don't think a draw is off the cards here. I say a hard fought 2-1 Spainish victory, if Spain wants it. However, if not I see a 2-2 draw.

This game is important as the winner will want to avoid holland in QF.

[drahnier]

I don't know if i'd prefer an Italy quarterfinal to a Holland quarterfinal, which is what seems like the most probable outcome right now.

[unclesox]

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20080614/i/r2104576362.jpg

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080614/capt.f45e3c8179f644c1a2534b4cedb96d9a.soccer_euro_2008_fans_pw101.jpg

From uefa.com...

Isaksson
Stoor -- Mellberg -- Hansson -- Nilsson
Elmander -- Ljungberg -- Andersson -- Svensson
Ibrahimović -- H.Larsson

Casillas
Sergio Ramos -- Puyol -- Marchena -- Capdevila
Senna
Iniesta -- Xavi -- Silva
Torres -- Villa


No players are carrying a booking.

[Bernabeu]

Now that you mention the horns...


http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/4233/swedishfansyk4.jpg
http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/8342/swedishgirls02eu4.jpg http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/6849/swedishfans787783gt7.jpg


... slap me if you see me supporting Sweden...