Countdown To Euro 2012: 11 Days To Go - Sweden

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Sweden

How'd they get here: Advanced automatically as the best runner-up in the qualifying group stage

Last Appearance: Euro 2008

Best Appearance: Euro 1992 (Semi-finals)

Schedule:

                        June 11 vs Ukraine

                        June 15 vs England

                        June 19 vs France

The Story:

Sweden's success in this tournament will most likely rise and fall based on their star forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic's form and knowing Zlatan (as well as someone who follows his career through the media can know someone), he wouldn't have it any other way. Sweden comes into this tournament as one of the unknowns because of their aging but experienced side that has been fairly inconsistent as of late. Head coach Erik Hamrén will employ an attacking 4-3-3 formation with this team that will look to stretch opposing teams therefore creating spaces for the talented attacking players this team possesses. 

Much like Croatia, the problem with this Swedish team is on the defensive end of the ball as the back four will be anchored by 34 year old former Aston Villa player Olof Mellberg and 35 year old Celtic defender Daniel Majstorović. If the other Group D members can exploit what looks to be the weakest point of this Sweden team, the Swedes could be in for a long tournament. In attack Sweden looks to be as talented as its Group D counterparts with a young midfield core led by Sebastian Larsson (scored a couple of screamers for Sunderland this season) hoping to provide service to Johann Elmander and Zlatan Ibrahimovic up front. 

Ibra' will have to leave some of his prima donna like tendencies at home if he wants his country to succeed. No doubt one of the best attacking players in the world, the Swedish captain will have to be in top goal-scoring form for Sweden to get out of Group D. A group that consists of co-host Ukraine and perennial underachievers France and England. Hamren's side can thank the schedule makers as they will get the weakest team in their group first followed by a Rooney-less (serving a 2 match ban) England. Trying to beat the hosts in Kiev will be no easy task but this Sweden team is definitely more talented and if they are able to take advantage of this in getting an early 3 points, all of the pressure will be placed on England and France. Something those 2 countries don't deal with especially that well. 

If I had to predict where this Swedish team would end up, I would predict them falling out of the tournament after the group stage because of the quality level that England and France both possess. Fans of Sweden can still hold on to hope that this team that has looked like world-beaters from time to time will show up in full force in Poland and Ukraine.

#1 Song in Sweden at the moment

This is one of the few of these that I actually enjoyed. Maybe it's because the group of guys who sing this appear to consist of Akon, Dwight Howard, a white Pitbull and one more guy (hes probably the Joey Fatone of the group) performing a dance-y song in what appears to be a basement. You also have to like the Bill Cosby look-a-like dancing with the old grandmas. Just a solid song.

Reasons to cheer for Sweden:


If your favorite book series is the Millennium trilogy, if you've been bragging about the 2012 Eurovision win to your friends the last few days, if your favorite candy is Swedish Berries, if you know the lyrics to every ABBA song, if your favorite NHL team is the Vancouver Canucks, if you think Mats Sundin is the greatest Leaf of all time, if you can make IKEA products without the instructions, if you're Swedish.

Previous Teams

#16 - Greece
#15 - Ukraine
#14 - Poland
#13 - Czech Republic
#12 - Croatia

Team #11 Tomorrow.

Luka Milanovic