Euro 2008 Preview: Spain vs Sweden

Sweden

vs

Spain

Saturday, June 14, 1800 CET
Innsburck (Austria) – Travel to Inssbruck

THE BIG PICTURE

Both teams won their opening games, so winner goes top and goes through. Spain were definitely the more impressive team, beating Guus Hiddink and Russia 4-1 with a hat-trick from David Villa. While Sweden saw off Greece with a moment of magic from Zlatan and a moment of madness from the Greek defence.

SPAIN

Three Key Players:

David Villa – hat-trick vs Russia

Carlos Puyol – defensive main-man, will have too keep an eye on Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Marco Senna – makes everyone else look good, and might have to work a bit harder today

Spain squad
Spain Team Profile

Visit [deep breath] Cesar, Elisa, Mando and Ryan at the Spain Euro 2008 Team Blog for more.

Buy Spain team gear here.

SWEDEN

Three Key Players:

Zlatan Ibrahimovic – did you see what he did against Greece? That’s why he’s a key player.

Olof Mellberg – will have his hands full with Villa and Torres

Freddie Ljungberg – managed to get through the Greece game with a cracked rib

Sweden squad
Sweden Team Profile

Visit Andrew at the Sweden Euro 2008 Team Blog for more.

Buy Sweden team gear here

BIG BATTLES

Speedy strikers vs Swedish defenders Will Sweden’s backline be able to cope with the quick and quicker strikeforce of Villa and Torres?

Spain’s left side vs Sweden’s right side Sweden will likely be without their first choice right winger Christian Wilhelmsson and first choice right back Niclas Alexandersson.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic vs Spain’s defence Not that Sweden are a one man team, but if you can keep Zlatan quiet, you’re more than halfway to keeping Sweden quiet.

Bet on Euro 2008

LIVEBLOG

Follow the Spain vs Sweden LiveBlog here.