The 2012 UEFA EURO - Page 30

Group A:
Russia
Poland

Group B:
Germany
Netherlands

Group C:
Spain
Italy

Group D:
France
Sweden

#1 - Andreas Isaksson (30): "Isak" is our definite first choice. He's got very quick reflexes and can make some ridiculous saves. Unfortunately, he's not as solid as one would like the keeper of the national team to be. His handling leaves much to be desired, and his communication with the back four varies greatly, sometimes leading to goals for the other team. He needs to be at his best for this tournament for us, or we might go out 0-3. Thankfully he usually steps it up during big competitions, so hopefully he can do that again. The fact that PSV apparently wants to cut him loose after the season is definitely a bit worrying.

#12 - Johan Wiland (31): Very solid keeper with great reflexes. Was named in "The Team of the Week" once in the 2010-11 UEFA Champion's League.

#23 - Pär Hansson (25): First keeper for reigning Swedish champions, Helsingborgs IF. Haven't seen all too much of him, but I assume he's mostly here to see and learn, and is unlikely to play.




#2 - Mikael Lustig (25): Looked like a great talent in his first season or two for Rosenborg, but has cooled down since. Transferred to Celtic where he has been injured and benched for some time. He has most likely lost his right back position due to his lack of playing time.

#3 - Olof Mellberg (34): One of the definitive leaders in the team. Has a heap of routine from playing for clubs like Racing Santander, Aston Villa and Juventus. The one player many look to for guidance and leadership, even after he resigned his captaincy.

#4 - Andreas Granqvist (27): Quite the late bloomer, he made some noise owning up in Groningen, earning himself a transfer to Genoa. Unfortunately I haven't had the chance to see much of him in Genoa, but he's been very good when given the chance in Sweden. Expect him to be the choice for right back ahead of Lustig. Goal.com named him as one of the players to watch out for.

#5 - Martin Olsson (24): Speedy defender with a good eye for crossing. Very offensively minded left back. Last season he played for Blackburn, who were sadly relegated, leading to him wanting out of the club. Was not super impressed from what I saw of him in the PL, but he looks like a solid mid-table club player, imo. He's been very solid in the national team and adds to the offensive power. Expect him to cause some trouble for his opponents come the Euro.

#13 - Jonas Olsson (29): Very underrated defender in my opinion. A defensive leader for Wigan, who he helped avoid relegation. Solid defender with good positioning. Most likely the starting centre back with Mellberg after Majstorovic's injury.

15 - Mikael Antonsson (31): Solid defender. Was a part of the Copenhagen team that made splashes in the Champion's League, but has since moved to Bologna. Good player to have as a Plan B.

17 - Behrang Safari (27): Was a very interesting young prospect but hasn't really turned into the player we hoped. Had a good season or two in Basel which earned him the left back position in the national team, but he literally threw that away. With a mindbogglingly stupid throw in, he gave the ball to Wesley Sneijder, who then passed the ball in to Afellay, who scored. A goal that looked like it would cost Sweden a spot at the European championship. Recently played in the friendly against Iceland and wans't all too bad, but he remains a worrisome defensive liability whenever he plays.




#6 - Rasmus Elm (24): Solid midfielder with excellent passing and amazing free-kicks. After good seasons in Erevidise side AZ Alkmaar, he is reportedly a main interest for several large clubs, including Liverpool. A very good player to have come in towards the end of games to take set pieces and such. Likely to start out on the bench.

#7 - Sebastian Larsson (26): A talent brought up in the Arsenal youth system. Left the Gunners due to too little playing time and joined Birmingham, where he became one o the club's most valuable players. He departed when they fell to the championship and joined Sunderland, where he scored on his debut. He's had an excellent debut season and has been a regular starter for the national team the last few years. Absolutely amazing crosser.

#8 - Anders Svensson (35): An incredibly experienced midfielder, Svensson oozes class. Great passer and set-piece specialist (Remember his free-kick against Argentina in 2002? I sure do). Brings so much to the team, and as vice-captain many look to him for inspiration. Has taken a more defensive position after the retirement of Tobias Linderoth. Almost never has bad games.

#9 - Kim Källström (29): Has always had to stand in the shade of Svensson, but in recent years have gotten the chance to play with him in the centre midfield. Great vision, passing and has a monstrous shot. Another great set-piece taker.

16 - Pontus Wernbloom (25): A warrior on the midfield. Has a temperament which could come to haunt him (I remember him getting into it with Balotelli during the U21 tourney a couple of years ago). Transferred to CSKA Moscow and managed to score against Real Madrid in the Champions League. Good defensive midfielder and strong personality on the pitch. Has shown off some great passing recently, among others a brilliant cross to Wilhelmsson during the last friendly against Iceland.

18 - Samuel Holmén (27): I'll be honest, I'm not a big fan of this pick. Holmén never impressed me, and just felt like a player that left for money. Apparently he's been good in Turkey, playing for Istanbul BB, so who knows. Doubt he'll make much of an impact.

#19 - Emir Bajrami (24): Very speedy and technical winger. Got his time in Twente destroyed by injuries and being benched. Looking to leave the club this summer. I can see him doing good in Italy or Spain. If he's in good shape, expect him to start and hopefully cause trouble for the opponents.

#21 - Christian Wilhelmsson (32): Such a wasted career this man has had. After showing great promise during his years in Anderlecht, he transferred to Nantes. Nantes loaned him left and right from Roma, to Bolton, to Deportivo, but none of the keepers wanted to hold on to him. He later left for Saudi Arabia and Al-Hilal. After thinking he disappeared, he came back into the national team and has been consistently good the chances he's gotten. Definitely a wildcard for the opponents to look out for.




#10 - Zlatan Ibrahimović (30): Let's make no mistake about it; Sweden's chances in this tournament depend totally on "Ibra". One of the best Swedish players ever, he carries a ton of responsibility, especially so as he is the captain. I probably don't need to tell you about the amazing career this man has had. Currently playing in Milan, he was the top scorer for this season. He has recently given great performances in the national team which is something he's struggled with earlier. He can play as a deep-lying striker in more of a supplying role, or as the tip of the spear. Amazing technique, vision, passing and a great shot, Zlatan is one of the most versatile forwards in modern football. Deceptively quick for his size and incredibly strong, he's a big danger for every defence in the world.

#11 - Johan Elmander (31): The energizer bunny of the Swedish national team, he can seemingly run for days. Recent years he has begun scoring more regularly (yay for experience) and as such has become a bigger threat himself. One of the biggest team players in the team, and extremely valuable. Currently injured, so it's a race to become healthy for Elmander.

#14 - Tobias Hysén (30): Son of former Swedish national Glenn Hysén, Tobias has spent his entire career in Sweden, save for a year in Sunderland. Quick forward with an eye for goals. Not likely to get much playing time.

#20 - Ola Toivonen (25): Very strong attacker with a mighty shot. Tall and a big threat on corner with his heading ability. Likely to start beside Ibra if Elmander is still injured when the matches kick off.

#22 - Markus Rosenberg (29): Has not been given much of a chance in recent years due to bad form and few goals. Hasn't seemed very inspired to play for Sweden, but was selected after scoring some goals for Werder Bremen this season.



Erik Hamrén (54): Just look at this handsome beast. After spending some years in Denmark and Norway as a coach, he was chosen for the Swedish national team. Has shown off some strategic wit lately, with some great substitutions resulting in goals and wins. Opted to change the Swedish line-up from 4-4-2 to 4-2-3-1, and secured another championship qualification for Sweden, after finishing second in the group behind the Netherlands, beating them 3-2 and effectively ending their 17 game long winning streak.

I think Sweden should have a good chance of getting out of the group. Naturally England and France are great teams, but England is injury-plagued and France is a dark horse to take home the entire tournament, but both are definitely beatable. Ukraine should be a solid three-pointer in the opening game and will hopefully set the tone for a good Swedish tournament run.

Probable starting eleven:
---------------------Isaksson-------------------
-Granqvist-Mellberg---Olsson-Olsson-
----------Svensson-----Källström-----------
--Larsson--------Elmander-----Bajrami/Wilhelmsson
--------------------Ibrahimović-----------------