Sweden will be heading into Euro 2012 as one of the hopeful nations trying to advance from Group D along with England, France, and Ukraine. Manager Erik Hamrén is hoping his team can improve on their best European Championship performance which came in 1992 when they lost in the semi finals. For Sweden to do so, striker Zlatan Ibrahimović will have to add to his career goals total of 28 for his nation. Fullback Mikael Lustig played every single minute of the country’s qualifying games and will be counted upon in Poland and Ukraine.
The Swedish Football Association was born in 1904 and the team’s nickname is Blågult. Their kits are blue and yellow, like the colours of the Swedish flag. Sweden didn’t qualify for the World Cup min South Africa in 2010 so will be looking forward to test their skills in a major tournament again.
They reached Euro 2012 as the best runner-up nation in the qualifying tournament. They came in second place in Group E with a total of 24 points from eight victories and two defeats. Captain Ibrahimović led the way in qualifying with five goals. They locked the best runners up spot with a dramatic 3-2 win over Group E champions Holland in the final qualifying match. Holland was hoping to win all 10 of their qualifiers, but Sweden handed them their first and only loss and assured themselves of automatic qualification.
Sweden hosted the European Championship in 1992, but was knocked out in the semi finals 3-2 by Germany. Overall, Sweden has participated in a total of 11 World Cup tournaments and four previous European Championships. Their best showing in the World Cup came back in 1958 when they hosted the event and finished as runners up after losing in the final to Brazil. They placed third in 1950 and 1994. Sweden has been quite successful on the Olympic football stage. They won the gold medal for the sport in 1948 and in 1924 and 1952 they won the bronze.
Sweden is currently ranked 17th in the world by FIFA and in 14 previous European Championship games they’ve won just four while drawing and losing five times each. They’ve scored 19 Euro goals and have allowed 16.
Sweden’s Euro 2012 Group D Schedule
Monday 11th June: Ukraine v Sweden, 20.45CET, Kyiv
Friday 15th June: Sweden v England, 20.45CET, Kyiv
Tuesday 19th June: Sweden v France, 20.45CET, Kyiv
Sweden’s chances in Euro 2012
Overall, Sweden has won one, lost, one and drawn one in three games with Ukraine. They’ve played England 22 times and have six wins, nine draws, and seven losses and against France they have four wins, five draws and eight losses in 17 games. They’ll have to beat Ukraine and could go through with draws against England and France. If they fail to win their first game they could be in trouble. As of Feb. 4, 2012, Sweden had won six and lost three of their last nine games overall.
Bet365 as the current odds of Sweden winning Group D at 11/2.
