[unclesox]

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by SectionX

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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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.