Sweden (Group D)
Squad | Scouting Report | Road to Euro 2008 | Euro History
| Squad | ||
| Player | Position | Club |
| Andreas Isaksson | Goalkeeper | Manchester City (England) |
| Rami Shaaban | Goalkeeper | Hammarby |
| Johan Wiland | Goalkeeper | Elfsborg Boras |
| Olof Mellberg | Defender | Juventus (Italy) |
| Petter Hansson | Defender | Stade Rennes (France) |
| Mikael Nilsson | Defender | Panathinaikos (Greece) |
| Niclas Alexandersson | Defender | IFK Gothenburg |
| Andreas Granqvist | Defender | Helsingborg |
| Daniel Majstorovic | Defender | Basel (Switzerland) |
| Fredrik Stoor | Defender | Rosenborg Trondheim (Norway) |
| Mikael Dorsin | Defender | CFR Cluj (Romania) |
| Tobias Linderoth | Midfielder | Galatasaray (Turkey) |
| Daniel Andersson | Midfielder | Malmo |
| Anders Svensson | Midfielder | Elfsborg Boras |
| Kim Kallstrom | Midfielder | Olympique Lyon (France) |
| Christian Wilhelmsson | Midfielder | Deportivo la Coruna (Spain) |
| Fredrik Ljungberg | Midfielder | West Ham United (England) |
| Sebastian Larsson | Midfielder | Birmingham City (England) |
| Zlatan Ibrahimovic | Forward | Inter Milan (Italy) |
| Johan Elmander | Forward | Toulouse (France) |
| Marcus Allback | Forward | FC Copenhagen (Denmark) |
| Markus Rosenberg | Forward | Werder Bremen (Germany) |
| Henrik Larsson | Forward | Helsingborg |
| Head Coach: | Lars Lagerback | |
Scouting Report
Style of play: Coach Lars Lagerback usually goes with a 4-3-1-2 formation, but has also been known to use a 4-4-1-1 scheme (with one forward playing just behind the other in a playmaking role). Sweden plays a very mechanical, tactically disciplined, and deliberate brand of soccer, with particular emphasis on moving the ball around efficiently, and zonal marking by the defenders. Kim Kallstrom and Anders Svensson form the key partnership in the centre of midfield with Svensson responsible for distributing the ball and Kallstrom taking on more defensive duties. Freddie Ljungberg on the left and Christian Wilhelmsson on the right are two attack-minded wingers who will make probing runs down the flanks and help set up the two strikers, Marcus Allback and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Allback likes to use his power and strength to take on defenders one-on-one to break into the box, while Ibrahimovic is a master at retaining possession and creating his own scoring chances. Sweden is a tall team but they don't punt long, high balls forward from the midfield. Instead, look for the Swedes to attack down the flanks, play the ball on the ground, and employ a counter-attacking style against stronger teams.
Probable starting formation (4-1-3-2): (GK) Isaksson - (D) Nilsson, Majstorovic, Mellberg, Stoor - (M) Kallstrom - (M) Ljungberg, Wilhelmsson, Svensson - (F) Ibrahimovic, Allback
Strengths
Midfield – Sweden has a variety of world-class options in midfield. Fredrik Ljungberg and Christian Wilhelmsson provide attacking impetus down the wings, Kim Kallstrom offers versatility and Andres Svensson adds defensive steel. Tobias Linderoth is an experienced player who can come off the bench and fit right into the lineup.
Attacking prowess – Forwards Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Johan Elmander are both scoring threats, but if either of them stalls, veterans Marcus Allback and Henrik Larsson (back from international retirement) and youngster Marcus Rosenberg can pick up the slack. Kallstrom, Ljungberg and Wilhelmsson also contribute offensively.
Motivation – Having qualified for their fifth successive major tournament, Sweden will be looking to make a lengthy run, instead of bowing out in the first or second round. Sweden has not advanced beyond the quarter-finals of a competition since the 1994 World Cup, and you can bet the Swedes are anxious to shed their under-achieving reputation.
Weaknesses
Injury concerns – Sweden comes into the tournament more than a little banged up. Influential left back Eric Edman has been ruled out because of a knee injury. Swedish captain and winger Fredrik Ljungberg is dealing with a cracked-rib injury and striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed most of the last two months of the Italian league season with a knee injury.
Defence – Don't be fooled by Sweden's six shutouts in the qualifiers (half of them came against Latvia, Iceland and Liechtenstein). The Swedish defence is old and creaky, and the loss of Eric Edman is a crushing blow for a team that lacks defensive depth and relies entirely on Olof Mellberg to hold things together at the back.
Goalkeeping – Andreas Isaksson was once considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world, but he's seen little first-team action this season with Manchester City and could be rusty coming into Euro. The Swedes better hope not, because backup Rami Shaaban is not reliable and third-stringer Johan Wiland is unproven
Players to watch
Zlatan Ibrahimovic – The reigning Swedish player of the year and a star forward with Italian champions Inter Milan. Ibrahimovic is a true genius, able to bamboozle defenders with unique flicks and mesmerizing moves. The tall Swede displays exquisite ball control, a natural goal-scorer's instinct and is often compared to Dutch legend Marco van Basten.
Kim Kallstrom – Easily one of the most gifted and versatile Swedish players. The Olympique Lyon star can either play on the left or in the centre of midfield, possesses a powerful shot, pinpoint passing skills, and offers a good mix of physically imposing and technically refined play.
Tobias Linderoth – Sweden's unheralded hero. The Swedish version of Gennarro Gattuso, Linderoth is a pit bull of a defensive midfielder, imposing his will on the game with his hard work, tireless running and expert reading of the game. Distributes the ball immaculately and is a threat of set pieces
Key injuries/sqaud omissions: A knee injury kept influential left full-back Eric Edman from making the team. Midfielder Freddie Ljunberg has been bothered by a rib injury. Midfielder Tobias Linderoth earned a call-up, despite being bothered by a hip injury. Forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic is still getting over a knee injury. Fellow striker Markus Rosenberg suffered a knee injury in a recent training session.
Road to Euro 2008
1st round matches:
June 10 vs. Greece (Salzburg)
June 14 vs. Spain (Innsbruck)
June 18 vs. Russia (Innsbruck)
Euro 2008 qualification route
Finished second in qualifying Group 6 (26 points) behind first-place Spain (28 points).
Record in qualifying: 8 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses
Goals for: 23
Goals against: 9
Top goal-scorer in qualifying: Marcus Allback (6)
Qualifying results:
09.02.2006: Sweden 1 - Latvia 0
09.06.2006: Sweden 3 - Liechtenstein 1
10.07.2006: Sweden 2 - Spain 0
10.11.2006: Sweden 2 - Iceland 1
03.28.2007: Sweden 1 – Northern Ireland 2
06.02.2007: Sweden 3 – Denmark 0
06.06.2007: Sweden 5 – Iceland 0
09.08.2007: Sweden 0 – Denmark 0
10.13.2007: Sweden 3 - Liechtenstein 0
10.17.2007: Sweden 1 - Northern Ireland 1
11.17.2007: Sweden 0 - Spain 3
11.21.2007: Sweden 2 - Latvia 1
Euro History
Number of Previous Euro Appearances: 3
All-time record: 11 GP - 3 W, 5 T, 3 L
Goals for: 16
Goals against: 12
Most goals: Henrik Larsson (4)
Most appearances: Olof Mellberg, Henrik Larsson and Freddie Ljungberg (7)
Biggest loss: 2-3 vs. Germany in 1992
Biggest win: 5-0 vs. Bulgaria in 2004
Euro Results:
1960 - did not compete in tournament
1964 to 1988 - did not qualify
1992 - semifinals
1996 - did not qualify
2000 - first round
2004 - quarter-finals
Legends from the past
Lennart Skoglund: Skoglund was an accomplished left-winger who helped Sweden reach the World Cup final on home soil in 1958. Renowned for his refined dribbling and passing skills, he played nine seasons for Inter Milan, winning the Italian league title twice.
Thomas Ravelli: Sweden's number-one goalkeeper for the bulk of the 1980s and 1990s, Ravelli led Sweden to a third-place finish in the 1994 World Cup in the U.S. Ravelli was nicknamed the "The Clown Prince of Soccer" for his pranks and jovial demeanour. Sweden's all-time caps leader with 143 national team appearances.