EURO 2021 analysis: the Swedes, with an aged defence and an interesting attack, have little chance of success

Sweden is going to the Euros with the goal of reaching at least the quarterfinals, but the team is not very strong this year. In addition to Slovakia, Spain and Poland have two tough obstacles in the group. Where will the Norse finish?

Goalkeepers: Karl-Johan Johnsson (Copenhagen), Kristoffer Nordfeldt (Gençlerbirliği), Robin Olsen (Everton)

Robin Olsen has a secure position in goal. He hasn’t played much for Everton this season, but he has plenty of experience (he has played for AS Roma, Cagliari and Copenhagen) and his teammates trust him.

Defenders: Emil Krafth (Newcastle United), Pierre Bengtsson (Vejle), Victor Lindelöf (Manchester United), Marcus Danielson (Dalian Yifang), Martin Olsson (Häcken), Ludwig Augustinsson (Werder Bremen), Pontus Jansson (Brentford), Filip Helander (Rangers), Mikael Lustig (AIK), Andreas Granqvist (Helsingborg)

The Swedish defence is definitely not one of the best in the tournament. On the left in a four-man system is the experienced Pierre Bengtsson, who is still a valid player at thirty-three.

Of course, Manchester United’s Victor Lindelof can’t be missing in the centre of defence, but the second stopper has been a long-standing problem for the Swedes. Marcus Danielson has played both preliminary games from the first minute, so he seems to be the first choice at left-back.

On the right side, there are two seasoned players to choose from. Mikael Lustig has had dozens of tough games, Emil Krafth wears the Newcastle United jersey and plays regularly in the Premier League.

Midfielders: Emil Forsberg (RB Leipzig), Ken Sema (Watford), Viktor Claesson (Krasnodar), Dejan Kulusevski (Juventus), Sebastian Larsson (AIK), Albin Ekdal (Sampdoria), Kristoffer Olsson (Krasnodar), Jens-Lys Cajuste (Midtjylland), Mattias Svanberg (Bologna), Gustav Svensson (Guangzhou)

The Swedes are playing a classic 4-4-2 formation, which is not seen much nowadays. That is, with two classic midfielders and two central midfielders. It’s very difficult to predict the exact composition of the midfield, as coach Janne Andersson likes to rotate it.

Emil Forsberg has a certain place. The offensive midfielder plays on the right or left wing for the national team, depending on who plays on the other flank. Excellent kicking technique and reading the game are his main weapons.

There are four players rotating in the middle, namely Albin Ekdal, Kristoffer Olsson, Mattias Svanberg and Sebastian Larsson. The last mentioned sometimes plays on the edge of the midfield, he is already 36 years old and physically not at his best. Olsson and Svanberg are the biggest favourites for the starting line-up.

The right edge of the midfield belongs to Dejan Kulusevski, a youngster who is gaining experience at Juventus from Cristiano Ronaldo. He is backed up by other quality players like Ken Sema or Viktor Claesson.

Forwards: Marcus Berg (Krasnodar), Alexander Isak (Real Sociedad), Robin Quaison (Mainz), Jordan Larsson (Spartak Moscow)

Marcus Berg is still getting a lot of space in attack, even though he is already 34 years old. He had a hand in seventeen goals for Krasnodar this season, scoring twelve times and assisting five.

The position of the second striker is occupied by Alexander Isak. The former Dortmund talent has scored a staggering seventeen goals in La Liga and will be expected to do big things at the Euros as well. He is quick, incisive and confident in his finishing.

Key success factors: Concentrated defence and Berge in Zlatan’s role

The Swedish defence is over-aged and won’t be able to keep up with the speed, that’s clear. Although they get a lot of goals in games against the favourites (Portugal-3, France-4), they can handle games against smaller nations with flying colours.

If the defense gives the same performance against the Slovaks as in the last games against Armenia or Finland, it should finish the game with zero.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the goal scorer and above all the leader of the team, will not fly to the tournament due to injury. His role should be taken over by the experienced Berge, probably the biggest player in recent years. It was he who pulled the team to such a good performance at the 2018 World Cup and took it all the way to the quarter-finals.

Prediction:: basic group

Source: Livesport