Since their debut appearance and placement in the semi-finals in 1992 on home soil, the Swedish football team has missed only one European Championship - 1996 in England. The "Three Crowns" selection is a regular participant of the continental competition, but has been waiting for the passage to the knockout phase since 2004, when it was eliminated by the Netherlands in the quarter-finals after penalty kicks.
A step forward could come at this year's Euro. In Group E with Spain (June 14, Seville), Slovakia (June 18, St. Petersburg) and Poland (June 23, St. Petersburg again), Sweden has a real chance to advance to the second round, and eventual elimination from the group represented a sudden return would be an alarm for possible changes.
For the first time in 17 years, Zlatan Ibrahimović, who participated in four championships, will not be at the European Championship. After a five-year break, Ibrahimovic played in the March qualifying matches for the World Cup, but due to a knee injury, he had to miss the upcoming Euro.
Ibra's absence should be felt, because some new generations have grown up in Sweden. In the attack are the super talented Aleksander Isak (Sociedad) and Jordan Larson (Spartak Moscow), as well as the experienced Markus Berg (Krasnodar). Isak is the youngest scorer in the history of the national team, he is 21 years old, while Larson is two years older. Jordan is the son of the legendary Henrik Larson and one of the best players of the previous season in the Russian championship - he played 30 matches, scored 15 goals, with five assists.
Larson and Isak bring youth and freshness, and Berg experience. In the jersey with the national emblem, he made 85 appearances and will be a great support for his younger teammates.
In addition to Berg, the senators in the "three crowns" selection are goalkeeper Robin Olsen (Everton), stopper Andreas Grankvist (Helsinborg), right back Mikael Lustig (AIK) and midfielder and captain Sebastian Larsson (AIK). Together, they have almost 500 appearances in the national team and are the backbone of the 4-4-2 formation, which is enforced by coach Jane Andersen.
There is also left back Martin Olson (Haken), as well as midfield players - Emil Forsberg (Leijspig), Albin Ekdal (Sampdoria), winger Dejan Kulusevski (Juventus) and the top scorer in the qualifiers with five goals, Robin Quaison (Mainz). A team that would have to go to the knockout stage.
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