Sweden Can Join Spain at Euro 2020

Sweden Can Join Spain at Euro 2020

Sweden vs Spain

We’re at the business end of the Euro 2020 qualifiers and, depending on the results in Group F this week, Spain fans can start to pack their bags.

Euro 2020, Sweden vs Spain is the big match on Tuesday, and when the final whistle blows at the Friends Arena in Stockholm, Spain head coach Robert Moreno will hope La Roja has booked their place.

Spain is one of the favourites to lift the European title next year and have played out a near-flawless campaign. Meanwhile, Janne Andersson’s Sweden also has high hopes of qualifying for the European Championships for the sixth consecutive time.

Let’s take a look at the key players, statistics and the very latest SBOBET odds.

Talking Points

Leading from the front

Both Sweden and Spain have the type of leader most nations could only dream of. Two scoring centre backs with ferocious spirit and legendary status.

The Swede’s skipper Andreas Granqvist is a colossus at the back and a threat going forward. He had a fantastic Russia 2018, leading his team to the quarter-finals and attracting interest from Manchester United.

The 6-foot-5 warrior has scored nine goals in 86 games for Sweden and is the man Sweden fans will look to in the big moments.

Granqvist is to Sweden what Sergio Ramos is to Spain.

Ramos overtook Iker Casillas as Spain’s most capped player of all time, earning his 168^th cap this weekend, in a glittering international career spanning 14 years. And he’s weighed in with 21 goals too which puts him in the top ten Spain scorers, not bad for a centre back!

He’s scored 59 goals in 427 appearances for Real Madrid since his 27m Euro transfer back in 2005, a record for a Spanish defender, since when he has won four Champions Leagues and four La Liga titles.

He is also the most carded and most sent-off player in La Liga history, as well as being the most carded player for Spain.

Impressive stuff eh?

The latest Sweden vs Spain betting odds point to a tight contest and much will depend on which leader dominates.

Spain’s 100 per cent record is no more

Saul Niguez gave La Roja a lead in a 1-1 draw in Norway on Saturday, but then goalkeeper Kepa clattered into an onrushing striker. Referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot and Joshua King converted the penalty.

That was the first blip in an otherwise perfect campaign, and Spain has a five-point lead at the top of Group F.

Moreno has a squad oozing with quality and plenty of firepower upfront. Paco Alcacer climbed off the bench to score two late goals in Spain’s 4-0 win over the Faroe Islands and he is likely to start in attack alongside Rodrigo.

Young midfield star Rodri is discovering what the Premier League is all about. Since he joined Manchester City in the summer the Champions have fallen to shock defeats to Norwich City and Wolves.  That experience will add more steel to a player who is very comfortable on the ball and sure to become a class act for both club and country.

Sweden in battle for second place

Andersson won’t be too worried about the five-point lead Spain has over his team. He’ll be keener to preserve the one-point lead he holds over Group F third-placed nation Romania. The two teams clash in November as part of a difficult run in for Romania, which includes a home game against Norway and a visit to Spain in the final fixture.

Norway is still in the hunt, thanks to King’s late equaliser against Spain, but needs a winning run and the stars to align to keep their hopes alive.

A 0-4 win away to Malta was a nice warm-up for this crunch game and Sweden managed to achieve that without their strikers having to work too hard. Granqvist’s centre back partner Marcus Danielsson opened the scoring before the evergreen Seb Larsson added two penalties and Malta contributed a second-half own goal.

History

Sweden were World Cup runners up as host nation in 1958, losing the final to Brazil. But their visitors are bigger hitters.

Spain are three times European Champions, with back to back victories in 2008 and 2012, winning the World Cup in between those triumphs in 2010.

The head to head Sweden vs Spain results are in Spain’s favour by four wins to two, the latest when Spain gave Sweden a 3-0 thumping in the return fixture in June.

Spain is unbeaten in eight while the Swedes are unbeaten in three at home.

Betting Tip

Spain First Half Asian Handicap -0.25 @ 1.97

All three results are in play with Sweden at 4.20, the draw at 3.45 with Spain odds on favourites at 1.72.

Sweden will fight for a result, and I can see the game ending in a draw, but I think Spain may have a slight edge and see the value in them nudging ahead by the break before Sweden attempt a comeback.

Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.

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