Euro 2020: Spain and Sweden Renew Acquaintances in Group E Opener

Spain vs Sweden

They are my tip to win Euro 2020.

A Spanish national team aiming to put the misery of the last World Cup – and a surprise last-16 exit – behind them and a nation which has shown glimpses of reproducing the top form which earned them three successive major titles from 2008-2012.

True, the build-up has been far from ideal with the positive Covid-19 test results of Sergio Busquets and Diego Llorente earlier this week.

Yet there was some relief as the remaining squad members’ tests came back negative.

Boss Luis Enrique has made it clear he will keep Busquets in his squad and, while the Barcelona midfielder will miss La Roja’s opener against Sweden, he should be back in time to face Poland in the second game on June 19.

First though, the Swedes await in Seville.

Talking Points

This is arguably a new era for the Spanish national team without captain Sergio Ramos.

The defender has been a constant figure since his first senior call-up under Luis Aragones in March 2005 since which he has missed only eight of the 93 squads that Spain have named, mostly down to injury problems.

It’s also the first time since November 2016 that he has not joined up.

In fact, Spain have played over 200 games since Ramos made his debut, going from 503 matches in total to 712 during his international career.

Add in the fact he has featured in four World Cups, three European Championships and two Confederations Cups for Spain, being champion of the world once and Europe twice, and you can see the impact he has had.

When one door closes though, another opens, and Spain have acquired a player who I consider every inch Ramos’ equal.

Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte was recently granted Spanish citizenship, having never played a senior game for France, and is a top class talent who will fill the void and, presumably, partner Villarreal’s Europa League winner Pau Torres at the heart of the Spanish defence.

Aymeric Laporte is expected to be a vital part of Spain’s defence in Euro 2020 — Spain’s Aymeric Laporte defending against Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo in a friendly match

As Spain gear up for the first of three ‘home’ group games in Sevilla, Sweden have this opener followed by two matches in St Petersburg.

The Scandinavians have geared up for the summer spectacle with a couple of workman-like results against Finland and Armenia but are not expected to pull up any trees.

At the last World Cup three years ago, this SBOTOP writer reported the core strength of their set-up was a fierce work ethic, a solid defence, obdurate at times, and the ability to play without pressure.

Perhaps they will be strengths they can use in their favour this time around too for a nation which appears stronger collectively than individually.

Spain and Sweden have become regular European Championship rivals in the 21st century and this will be their third meeting in as many years after they were also paired together in the same qualifying group.

After one Spanish win and a draw then, Sweden are underdogs but can Janne Andersson’s men now be third time lucky and create Euro 2020 highlights?

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History

The only previous time these two have met in a European Championship came in Euro 2008 when Spain triumphed 2-1 in Innsbruck, thanks to a last-gasp David Villa goal which guaranteed their place in the quarter-finals as Group D winners.

The game looked like ending in a draw after Zlatan Ibrahimović’s second goal in as many games had wiped out Fernando Torres’s 15th-minute opener on a chilly evening in the Austrian Alps.

Spain went onto win the competition.

That is one of six Spanish successes against the Swedes who have tasted victory on three occasions. A further five matches have ended all square.

When they met in qualifying for this tournament two years ago, Spain ran out 3-0 winners in Madrid with Ramos opening the scoring with a penalty.

In the return fixture in Sweden they needed a last-minute equaliser from Rodrigo, now of Leeds United, after Marcus Berg had put Sweden in front in Stockholm.