Spain vs Sweden
Spain vs Sweden takes place in Seville on June 14 in what is the second game of Group E. La Rioja are three-times winners of the European Championships, winning consecutive editions in 2008 and 2012. They face a Sweden side making their 7th appearance in the finals tournament but who have only made it out of the group stage twice. Read on for our match analysis, game predictions and betting tips.
Form
Spain’s last 11 games have been a real mixed bag of results. Last autumn they were shocked by Ukraine in Kyiv, losing 1-0 only to smash Germany 6-0 in a Nations League game just over a month later. Luis Enrique’s men only managed to draw 1-1 with Greece in their first international of 2021 and needed an injury time winner from Dani Olmo to beat Georgia in Tbilisi. If Spain are to get anywhere in this tournament they will need to be much more consistent.
After a shocking 2020 where they lost six of their eight games, Sweden have improved this year with three straight wins in March. While their wins this year were against relatively weaker teams in Georgia, Kosovo and Estonia it will have been important for Janne Anderson to put the brakes on the slide his team was suffering. Sweden have yet to concede a goal in 2021; a marked difference from the side which shipped 16 in 8 games in 2020.
Injuries
Two players at either end of their career missed out on being picked for this tournament. Spain and Real Madrid skipper Sergio Ramos misses out after an injury plagued season and at the age of 35 there is a question if he will be able to add to his 180 caps. At the other end of the scale, Barcelona wonderkid Ansu Fati has not played since November due to injury and faces his third operation to try and fix the problem with his meniscus. The Guinea-Bissau born forward is highly rated and already has four caps and one goal for Spain. One player who has made the cut is Aymeric Laporte, who has had his nationality switch from France approved him time for him to be picked.
Sweden were hoping to include Zlatan Ibrahmiovic for this tournament after the Milan legend reversed his decision to retire from international football. However, knee surgery has ensured that there will be no last international hurrah for Ibrahamovic at this tournament and leaves the Sweden squad a little poorer for that. Instead, it will be a chance for 21-year-old Alexander isak to make his mark for the Blue and Yellow having scored 17 for Real Sociedad in La Liga last season.
Game Prediction
As one would expect, Spain are hot favourites for this game, with most bookies offering no more than 1.40 against Luis Enrique’s men emerging victorious. It’s not hard to understand why; for all of Spain’s recent spotty form, the 6-0 win over Germany showed just how well they can play when everything clicks. The emergence of Ferran Torres as a goalscorer with Manchester City along with the hot club form of Alvaro Morata for Juventus and Mikel Oyazabel for Real Sociedad could mean goals galore for Spain. We suggest checking the over/under markets for betting tips.
