Day 8: Sweden-Spain and Greece-Russia

2nd round of games for Group D, let's hope they're as good as yesterday's games.

How will Sweden play. Defensive or will they go for it. I think Spain will win this but will have a scare at some point.

They already met in qualifying. Victory each at home but the latter game in Spain is more telling I think.

I'm sure that Sweden will play a cautious game - it is Lagerback's style, and he has said that they 'will have to be patient'. Again, I think their hopes rest on Ibrahimovic - I think if they're to win the game, they'll need something from him - Larsson isn't the type who will drag a game by the scruff of its neck, and they don't have a hugely attacking midfield.

Wilhelmsson is obviously out, and Seb Larsson will probably replace him on the right of midfield. Wilhelmsson and Ljungberg swapped wings a lot in the last game - maybe Larsson will swap wings less frequently. I guess the other option is to play Kallstrom on the left, but I don't see it. Linderoth is still a doubt, so the centre of midfield will probably stay the same. Alexandersson, who played at right back against Greece, is out - Nilsson will switch to right back and Stoor will play at left, and whilst Stoor has few caps, it shouldn't affect the team much.

I think Spain will win the game, and I'm hoping that Russia do Greece by a number of goals. That would leave things nicely set up for the last game, for Russia/Sweden.

Bashmachkin wrote:I'm sure that Sweden will play a cautious game - it is Lagerback's style, and he has said that they 'will have to be patient'. Again, I think their hopes rest on Ibrahimovic - I think if they're to win the game, they'll need something from him - Larsson isn't the type who will drag a game by the scruff of its neck, and they don't have a hugely attacking midfield.

Wilhelmsson is obviously out, and Seb Larsson will probably replace him on the right of midfield. Wilhelmsson and Ljungberg swapped wings a lot in the last game - maybe Larsson will swap wings less frequently. I guess the other option is to play Kallstrom on the left, but I don't see it. Linderoth is still a doubt, so the centre of midfield will probably stay the same. Alexandersson, who played at right back against Greece, is out - Nilsson will switch to right back and Stoor will play at left, and whilst Stoor has few caps, it shouldn't affect the team much.

I think Spain will win the game, and I'm hoping that Russia do Greece by a number of goals. That would leave things nicely set up for the last game, for Russia/Sweden.

A draw between Sweden and Spain and a Greece win.

If Svensson can get his set-piece deliveries right they can hurt spain.

In the other thread the board's resident Swedish poster said Elmander will start at RM.

Sweden will play with Elmander on the right wing, so Sweden will have 3 capable strikers in a potent attack. Sweden will want to gamble and go for a win, since drawing or loosing with a couple of goals does not make a difference (unless Russia beats Greece with more than 2 goals.) Therefore expect a Swedish team intent on attack (particularly on the break). Also, one should recall that MoZart is now playing on "home ground"...Will he play his magic flute today?

D for drab dire dull draws please.

Amazing..I think all the Swedish have played in Holland at some point in their career

They adept so well here, same with the Danish.

Good people though! Lovely country!

Fey wrote:Amazing..I think all the Swedish have played in Holland at some point in their career

They adept so well here, same with the Danish.

Good people though! Lovely country!

Did you have the honour of Olof in your league? I thought he only played in Sweden and Spain?

debaser wrote:

Fey wrote:Amazing..I think all the Swedish have played in Holland at some point in their career

They adept so well here, same with the Danish.

Good people though! Lovely country!

Did you have the honour of Olof in your league? I thought he only played in Sweden and Spain?

Mellberg? No dont think so, great guy though!

Anyway, a lot of them have played here...

I haven't seen any newspapers today - is it fact that Elmander will play on the right ahead of Larsson, or is it more the expected line-up? Elmander would be a bit more attacking, though I still expect Sweden to sit. Lagerback has said that Sweden will need to push forward and take chances and try to make the most of things when they do have the ball, but at the same time they will be cautious, and I'm sure they will let Spain come at them.

I'm hoping Pavlyuchenko is fit for today - he has been training the last few days, and their other target man, Adamov, I don't know much about, he only has a handful of caps.

Elmander can play wide very well (scored a great goal for Feyenoord v Bayern in the CL coming from the left wing with a stuuning run; never properly struck a ball thereafter for us; had some mental problems: fear of failure; glad he sorted that out). His pace will be useful for counterattacks too.

2 Feyenoorders in Sweden's attack!

Is sweden trying to go on the attack against Spain....? I mean, to finish 2nd in this group means you are OUT 110% for sure.....

or at least the countries believe that at this moment

Isn't Kallstrom a regular for Lyon? I'm amazed he doesn't get in the Sweden side

RicardoJol wrote:Is sweden trying to go on the attack against Spain....? I mean, to finish 2nd in this group means you are OUT 110% for sure.....

or at least the countries believe that at this moment

Could be a defensive move (playing 3 strikers) to make sure the Spanish fullbacks can't go forward that easily.
Don't think they'll attack, would be suicidal, an end to end open match would result in sweden getting trashed. Think they aim for swift counterattacks. Still a very positive line-up by the accountant.

Calidad wrote:Isn't Kallstrom a regular for Lyon? I'm amazed he doesn't get in the Sweden side

Not sure but your right it is amazing he doesn't get into the national side espically when you have some average players starting in his position.

Ade wrote:

Calidad wrote:Isn't Kallstrom a regular for Lyon? I'm amazed he doesn't get in the Sweden side

Not sure but your right it is amazing he doesn't get into the national side espically when you have some average players starting in his position.

He doesn't play all their games, but on the other hand, Lyon have very few sure started in their midfield...

Definitely more than good enough for this Swedish team.

Have you seen this Nike commercial. They're going to another level this time:

http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=-qqSWyKqs8U

Hmmmm i hate matches like this. Don't like neither team

Oh the Swedes got some hot ass fans. Lets go for them

The Swedish bus is well and truly parked

Anders Svensson looks quality as always

Very eloquently put Lrd.

TORRES!!!!!!

I win 40Euros

Thats 2 unbelievable passes by Larsson now.

Now c'mon win 3-0 and I'll win another 100Euros

That move was classic Xavi...kept alternating passes with everyone in the team, then finally played a very clever ball to Iniesta who unfortunately overhit his lobbed pass to Silva.

COTR wrote:The Swedish bus is well and truly parked

Not anymore, they're giving it a good go now and tbf, thats really the only way you can play against Spain, especially as Puyol is now injured.