The Swedes, bronze medallists of Euro 1992 will play for the fifth time at the European Championship. They came out very well in the eliminations taking the second place.
As the Swedes turned out to be the best team among those that finished second in their qualifying groups, they were promoted directly to the main event. It was hard to win in the group having the Dutch team as the biggest rivals. It is the fact that the Swedes defeated the Oranje but it was the last qualifying match and the Dutch were sure to be promoted from the first place to the Championship.
Undoubtedly, the greatest treasure of the Swedish is Zlatan Ibrahimovic, their shooter who scored five goals in the qualifying games. Without him it would be hard to achieve the success. The strength of the team, apart of the AC Milan player, will be assured by the midfielder Sebastian Larsson, Ola Toivonen, Johan Elmander, Kim Kallstrom, and Christian Wilhelmsson. The strong point of the team is also a goalkeeper, Andreas Isaksson.
The team of Erik Hamren will have as their rivals in the European Championship in Group D the Ukrainians, the English and the French. Most supporters answering the question which two teams will come out of the group would answer that it will be France and England. However, it must be concluded that neither the French nor the English cut a dash at the last great events. Thus, the Swedes can see their chance in taking the promoted place.
Sweden Euro 2012 Squad
Goalkeepers: Andreas Isaksson (PSV Eindhoven), Johan Wiland (FC København), Pär Hansson (Helsingborgs).
Defenders: Mikael Antonsson (Bologna FC), Andreas Granqvist (Genoa CFC), Olof Mellberg (Olympiacos FC), Jonas Olsson (West Bromwich Albion FC), Martin Olsson (Blackburn Rovers FC), Behrang Safari (RSC Anderlecht), Mikael Lustig (Celtic FC).
Midfielders: Emir Bajrami (FC Twente), Rasmus Elm (AZ Alkmaar), Samuel Holmén (İstanbul BB SK), Kim Källström (Olympique Lyonnais), Sebastian Larsson (Sunderland AFC), Anders Svensson (IF Elfsborg), Pontus Wernbloom (PFC CSKA Moskva), Christian Wilhelmsson (Al-Hilal FC).
Forwards: Johan Elmander (Galatasaray AŞ), Tobias Hysén (IFK Göteborg), Zlatan Ibrahimović (AC Milan), Markus Rosenberg (SV Werder Bremen), Ola Toivonen (PSV Eindhoven)
Sweden Euro 2012 Group Matches
Monday, June 11, 2012 Ukraine v Sweden (21:45 CET in Kiev)
Friday, June 15, 2012 Sweden v England (21:45 CET in Kiev)
Tuesday, June 19, 2012 Sweden v France (21:45 CETin Kiev)
Sweden Quick Facts
- Best World Cup Result: Runners-up (1958)
- Best European Championship Result: Semi Final (1992)
- Record Scorer: Sven Rydell (43 goals from 1921-1932)
- Most Capped Player: Thomas Ravelli (143 caps from 1981-1997)
- Coach: Erik Harmen
- Captain: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
