Sweden Euro 2020 team profile: squad, manager, odds and prospects

Tournament odds: 100-1

Tournament regulars Sweden are featuring in their sixth successive European Championship and there is plenty of optimism that they can eclipse their efforts of previous years.

The Swedes have been eliminated in the group stages in four of their last five tournament appearances and Euro 2016 was deemed a disaster as they crashed out with just one point from a section featuring Italy, Belgium and Republic of Ireland.

However, Sweden successfully navigated a path to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Russia three years ago and a fairly convincing qualifying campaign suggests better may be yet to come.

Janne Andersson's men lost only one of their ten qualifiers, chasing home Group E rivals Spain and holding them to a 1-1 draw in Solna.

The Swedes made little impact in the Nations League as they suffered relegation from the top-flight but the opposition was fierce and they should be judged more on subsequent World Cup qualifying wins over Georgia (1-0) and Kosovo (3-0).

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who had reversed his decision to retire internationally and was ready to end his five-year absence, has been starved of a fairytale return to the national squad due to injury.

But while the absence of their talismanic figure is a big blow, there is a new generation of Swedish stars bursting onto the scene.

Real Sociedad’s Alexander Isak, Juventus ace Dejan Kulusevski and Jordan Larsson, the son of Henrik who netted 15 times from just 29 appearances for Spartak Moscow in the Russian top-flight this season, lead an exciting younger brigade.

With experienced midfielders Emil Forsberg and Robin Quaison both thriving in the Bundesliga with Leipzig and Mainz respectively and the evergreen Marcus Berg still amongst the goals at Krasnodar, they have the resources to cause plenty of problems in the final third for the opposition.

There are areas lacking quality, most notably in defence, but this is a tight-knit group not lacking for organisation and in Manchester United man Victor Lindelof they are at least armed with a first-class centre-back.

Scouting report

Manager - Janne Andersson: The 58-year-old has picked up the pieces since replacing Erik Hamren following a below-par Euro 2016 and his defensive-orientated tactics helped guide Sweden to the quarter-final of the 2018 World Cup. They topped a group featuring Mexico, South Korea and reigning champions Germany.

A much-respected coach, Andersson has also managed Halmstads BK, Orgryte IS and IFK Norrkoping, who he led to a surprise title triumph - their first Swedish Allsvenskan for 26 years - in 2015.

Probable team - 4-4-2: Olsen; Lustig, Helander, Lindelof, Augustinsson; Kulusevski, K Olsson, Ekdal, Forsberg; Isak, Berg.

Penalty taker: Sebastian Larsson
Free-kick wizard: Emil Forsberg
Set-piece aerial threat: Filip Helander
Card magnet: Kristoffer Olsson
Star man: Emil Forsberg

Team Strengths

• Andersson has his group united and well-drilled
• The Swedes carry more attacking threat than in previous years with the emergence of some fresh talent
• There are goals throughout the team - Sweden netted 23 times across their ten qualifiers, which featured 11 different scorers

Team Weaknesses

• The loss of leader Ibrahimovic reduces quality and experience from their squad
• Their full-back options look vulnerable, particularly against a winger offering pace and width
• Squad depth is a problem and injuries or suspensions to key personnel could hit them hard

Prospects: Sweden defied the odds to top their World Cup group in Russia three years ago and they should be confident of sealing a direct place into the knockout stages.

Spain, just as they were in qualifying, may be too strong for Janne Andersson's men but they look the second best team in the section and finishing in the top-two spots would reward them with a winnable round of 16 tie. Another quarter-final is not beyond them.

Inside info - Lars Sivertsen, Nordic football expert: It's a real shame Ibrahimovic hasn't made it, not only because he is Ibra but I think he would been the perfect partner for Isak.

I am interested to see whether Henrik Larsson's son, Jordan, gets many minutes. It said a lot for his character that he was able to succeed in Russian football with Spartak Moscow this season.

Not got a bet365 account? Sign up today and get up to £100 in bet credits

Up to £100 in Bet Credits for new customers at bet365. Min deposit £5. Bet Credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

CLAIM OFFER HERE

MORE FREE BETS

Sign up to emails from Racing Post Sport and get all the latest news and best bets for Euro 2020

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport