Euro 2008 Team Preview: Sweden

ibrahimovic sweden euro 2008 FOOTBALL – Euro 2008 Team Preview – SWEDEN
33/1 with Stan James to win Euro 2008.

5/1 with Stan James to win Qualifying Group D (includes Spain, Greece and Russia).
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Coach

Lars Lagerback has been in sole charge of the national side since previous joint-manager Tommy Soderberg left to take over the under-21s in 2004. Lagerback is naturally conservative and has been criticised for taking too few risks. However, the game’s authorities obviously have a belief in his ability to recreate Sweden’s golden era. The 59-year-old recently extended his contract to include the 2010 World Cup, despite his initial announcement that 2008 would be his last year in charge.

Qualification

Sweden were drawn in qualifying group F, along with a strong Spanish side and fellow Scandinavians Denmark. The group was completed by Northern Ireland, Latvia Iceland and Liechtenstein. Northern Ireland made a strong challenge for qualification, taking five pints from their two games with Sweden. Despite struggling on occasions, the Swedes eventually finished as runners-up, just two points behind Spain and six clear of Northern Ireland

Key Players

Standing at 6 feet 4 inches tall, it would be easy to construe striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic as just another lanky target man, until you see him play. Silky skills and the audacity to use them have earned him a reputation as one of Europe’s top players. Ibrahimovic can be impulsive and temperamental at times, but his unique influence in the forward line is crucial for Sweden to penetrate the best defences in Europe. Sweden’s current "Player Of The Year" is still only 26, and even though failing to score in the qualifying stages, his pedigree as both creator and ace goalscorer make him an automatic selection.
Playmaker Kim Kallstrom often failed to receive the praise he deserved until he joined Lyon in 2006 and qualified for the Champions’ League. A hard-working midfielder, he is creative and a wonderful passer of the ball.
Marcus Berg, currently based in the Netherlands, looks set to earn a Euro 2008 call-up after making his senior debut in February’s draw with Turkey. The 21-year-old certainly has a taste for scoring goals at club level. Berg left Gothenburg for FC Groningen midway through the 2007 Swedish season, but still finished as the league’s leading scorer with 14 goals. He has since rattled off 15 more, to put him in the top four strikers in Holland.

Past Championships

Non-entrants in the inaugural Championships of 1960, Sweden failed to qualify for the next seven tournaments. However, this dismal record ended in 1992, when, as hosts, Sweden reached the semi-finals. The side encountered further setbacks, failing to qualify for Euro 1996 and making an early exit in 2000. However, they reached the quarter-finals in Portugal (2004) and, with a stronger side for Euro 2008, will be hopeful of at least matching that achievement.
1960 – Did Not Enter

1964 – Did Not Qualify

1968 – Did Not Qualify

1972 – Did Not Qualify

1976 – Did Not Qualify

1980 – Did Not Qualify

1984 – Did Not Qualify

1988 – Did Not Qualify

1992 – Semi-Finals

1996 – Did Not Qualify

2000 – Round 1

2004 – Quarter-Finals

All odds correct at time of writing. Please click here for the latest odds



    Related Articles:
  • Euro 2008 Team Preview: Spain
  • Euro 2008 Team Preview: Greece
  • Euro 2008 Team Preview: Turkey
  • Euro 2008 Team Preview: Switzerland
  • Euro 2008 Team Preview: France


    • Written by Jason Tynan · Filed Under Euro 2008, Football 

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