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by Daniel Andersson

Date: 03 June 2008

Sweden's Chances in the Euro 2008

Hi J

Considering I am swedish it may not be a surprise that I wanted to write about Sweden's chances in the euro's so here it goes.

Sweden has been part of the best of the rest for a while now and has qualified for five straight EC's and WC's including this year. This is a big accomplishment for a nation of Sweden's size. But how does it look coming into this tournament?

Well, it has been far from ideal with many injuries on key players including Ibrahimovich, Ljungberg, Edman and Linderoth. It looks like Zlatan will be fit for fight and Freddie is also looking to be fit from his injury, although his game form may be questionable, and Edman is not included in the squad because of his injury. Linderoth has not been looking uninhibited by his hip and he has been out for six months with his first games being the freindlies now before the tournament and he has been far from his A-game, he has also said that he has felt pain in his hip.

Sweden is such a small nation that they need all players fit and in form to have any chance to combat with the other teams in a championship of this magnitude. But it does look better than a few weeks ago.

The only big concern now is Linderoth who has been one of if not the most important player in recent years. He has closed down the entire midfield and the dangerous space between defece and midfield basically on his own and because of that contributed massively to Swedens strong and stable defence. Without him or he being out of form a technically good team can easily find the space in front of the defence and cause alot of panic. And the sad trouth is that all the teams in the group both got alot of men central in midfield and have a very good technical ability and a fast passing game.

With Edman out they have to move Nilsson over on the left flank and put in Alexandersson on the right back. Now either of these players are great defending defenders and could make them suffer against good wingers.

So defensively it doesn't look that great but offensively it is looking better than ever, but is that enough?

With Larsson making yet another comeback to the national team Sweden can present a very capable forward pair in Ibrahimovich and Larsson.

Despite his age and return to the swedish allsvenska Larsson still has holds high international class. He is a perfect "link" between midfield and attack and his one-touch combinations with deep running midfielders is superb and his constant movement is also a worry for the opponents. Zlatan doesn't need an introduction. He is one of the top forwards in the world now.

In midfield there is Freddie on one flank and Willhelmsson, who has gotten a boost since his move to Depor, and Sebastian Larsson, who has a great season in Birmingham behind him, who fights for the other flank possition. Then it will be either Svensson or Källström on the other central position besides or in front of Linderoth. If Linderoth can't play Svensson will take his defensive possition. Ty may need to play with two defensive midfielders and then it will be Linderoth/Svensson.

I think they should think in a comepletely different way. Instead of letting one of Sebastian Larsson and Willhelmsson sit on the bench they should let both of these in form wingers play and move Freddie in centrally from which he can use his tactical knowledge and be a threat with his deep runs from there instead and be able to combine with Zlatan and Henrik Larsson. He has worked great from a central position before, mostly as a forward, both from his time in Arsenal and in the national team. But that will most likely never happen.

As said the offensive game is better than it used to be but it is still a way to go before it reaches the abilities of Spain, Portugal and the likes and in a position as the defending team in all the group matches, which probably will be the case, it will be tough with a weaker defence than usual an the attack will not make up for that.

After a bit deeper look at the group I rank Spain on top with Greece slightly after and Russia and Sweden at the same level. If both Sweden and Russia would have full squads Russia would be on top of Sweden. So it is looking tough coming into this tournament as a Swede.

Thanks for reading.

Daniel

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