New life after the Eurocup.
After finishing first in the group of Spain -making a tie against the set of Luis Enrique playing his typical game of not exposing himself and protecting himself far behind-, the elimination in front of Ukraine in the round of 16 it was a disappointment for the Nordic team. Up to six players from the roster Eurocup decided to leave the national team after the tournament: Mikael Lustig, Andreas Grandqvist, Sebastian Larsson, Marcus Berg, Pontus Jansson and Gustav Svensson. Of all of them, the first four have been indisputable starters in recent years and pieces of enormous hierarchy in the locker room. Janne Andersson, who is still on the bench, has had to accelerate the generational changeover, and his first decision has been to give the captain’s armband to Victor Lindelöf, the central of Manchester United. However, the backbone will continue to be formed by players who have already represented Sweden this summer: Robin Olsen in the goal, the aforementioned Lindelöf behind, Ekdal and Kris Olsson in the middle, Forsberg in three quarters and Isaac and Kulusevski above. Especially, the Real Sociedad crack will see his role as the true leader of the attack strengthened.
Incognito in the central pair.
Marcus Danielson has already taken the place of Grandqvist on the Eurocup, but his expulsion in overtime against Ukraine will force you to serve a penalty before Spain. The soaring central of the Rangers Filip Helander He is the favorite to form the duo with Lindelöf, although he also has options Carl Starfelt, signed by Celtic coming from Rubin Kazan in the latter market. The strategy of Spain Using mobile attackers in the nine position can be especially useful against very dominant Swedish defenders from above but with much more difficulty in the turns and when protecting their backs.
The Larsson relay.
The center of the field of Sweden on the Euro it was very clear: a double pivot Ekdal-Olsson in which the second was clearly the most creative player; a band with a tendency to inside play and to the diagonals to end up stepping on the rival area with a Forsberg immeasurable and a lot of work and good centers on the part of Sebastian Larsson in the other. With the decline of the latter, Andersson could consider aligning Kulusevski on the right as a fourth midfielder, forming up with Isaac and Quaison. If you don’t want to be so daring, Viktor Claesson, the good arrival of the KrasnodarIt would be the solution to start from that side.
Ibrahimovic is still injured.
After returning to the national team last March, a knee injury prevented the 39-year-old veteran forward from participating in the Eurocup. The same ailment has left him out at the premiere of Milan on the A leagueTherefore, it will not be possible to measure Spain either.
Sweden has yet to fit in. In the first two games of this qualifying round against Georgia and Kosovo, the Scandinavian team left a clean sheet. It is a small sample and the rivals were minor, but both were able to score against Spain. Those two games were played by the substitute goalkeeper, Nordfeldt, given that Robin Olsen He arrived with discomfort. The usual holder, who will occupy the bow before Spain, has just been loaned by the Roma al Sheffield United, so he will play in the English second division.
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