Sweden vs Poland
Group E in Euro 2020 could well prove to be the tightest of them all.
Spain, firm favourites, have laboured in their opening two matches collecting just two points.
At the same time, Sweden lead the way with four and Slovakia defeated Poland in their opener to give themselves every chance of reaching the knockout stage.
Yet with the best frontman in world football, the Poles are not out of it.
So, while out-and-out Euro 2020 highlights may be lacking at times, there should be no shortage of drama on the final evening of matches.
Talking Points
Sweden showed real spirit to hold Spain in their opener and followed that up with victory against Slovakia to mean they are almost home and hosed.
It may not always be pretty, but you could not help but admire the resoluteness they showed against Spain as coach Janne Andersson gets the best out of his nation collectively at a time when they lack the individual talents that the Scandinavians have produced in recent days, such as Henrik Larsson and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Indeed, the coach was keen to ignore the critics after defeat of Slovakia put them on the verge of the knockout stages of the European Championships for the first time since 2004.
Then there’s Poland, whose surprise opening defeat to Slovakia was remedied by a spirited display against Spain.
Yes, Poland were occasionally ragged but determined to resist and if they can show the same level of resoluteness – plus some composure in attack – they will be quietly confident of reaching four points themselves.
Much, of course, will depend on Robert Lewandowski.
After a season in which he broke a record of Gerd Müller that had stood for almost half a century, Poland definitely needing to find service to their prolific number nine to keep alive their chances of claiming a last-16 spot.
Poland are appearing at their fourth straight European Championships. Prior to Euro 2016 they had never won a finals match.
Four years ago, however, they advanced to the last eight for the first time and bowed out without losing a game in regulation play as they were eliminated by eventual champions Portugal on penalties in the quarter-finals.
Now would be a good time to find their best form yet again. Failure to do so and they will miss out.
History
This is the 27th meeting between the nations and Sweden have enjoyed victory on 14 occasions, including in all of the last five. The most recent of those came in a Solna friendly in June 2004, the home side winning 3-1.
On that occasions, the Swedes’ marksmen were Henrik Larsson, Andreas Jakobsson and Marcus Allback.
Sweden defeated Poland home and away in qualifying for both Euro 2000 and Euro 2004, keeping clean sheets in all four fixtures – 1-0 away, 2-0 home in the 2000 preliminaries and 3-0 home, 2-0 away in the following tournament.
Sweden are unbeaten in their last seven games against Poland (won six, drawn one), since a 2-0 friendly loss in August 1991. The Scandinavian side have scored 18 goals in that seven-match sequence, conceding only three – two of them coming in a 2-2 friendly draw in Solna in May 1997, the last time Poland avoided defeat against the Swedes.
Poland did, however, come out on top in their only previous fixture at a major tournament, a Grzegorz Lato goal securing victory in Stuttgart in the second group stage of the 1974 World Cup.
That is one of eight victories Poland have managed against Sweden – three having come outside of Poland – but remains their only competitive success in what was the first such match between the teams.
Sweden have won all of the subsequent six, keeping clean sheets in the last five; a Ryszard Tarasiewicz strike in May 1989 in a World Cup qualifier was Poland’s last competitive goal against the Swedes.
Overall, there also have been four draws.
Betting Tip
 |
 |
Sweden vs Poland | 1X2 Draw @ 3.10 |
| June 24, 00:00 (GMT+8) |
Oh, this is a tight one to call and the SBOTOP Euro 2020 betting odds are keeping me guessing too.
Perhaps because they need the points more, but Poland have been made slight favourites for the clash in Russia.
You can bet on the Poles 1X2 @ 2.50 or Asian Handicap -0.25 @ 2.23.
Sweden, meanwhile, are on offer 1X2 @ 2.77 and Asian Handicap -0.25 @ 2.40.
The draw will pay out @ 3.15.
For another 3-1 Swedish win – 17 years after their last meeting – the correct score odds are @ 30.00.
Goals win games and over 2.50 of them will earn you odds of @ 2.31, total goal 2-3 @ 1.90, total goal 4-6 @ 4.30 and, for a really tight encounter, total goal 0-1 @ 2.79.
That temped me I must admit, as did a Poland victory, but I just feel there will be a few goals in this one, whichever way it goes. My prediction, however, is that it ends in a draw.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
|
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
