England vs Sweden: Euro 2012 Group D Match Crucial For Both Sides

Euro 2012: England vs. Sweden

By Oliver Platt, Goal.com

A loss would eliminate Erik Hamren's team from Euro 2012 following its defeat against Ukraine as Roy Hodgson faces the country in which he has won seven league titles.

SWEDEN
Isaksson
Lustig, Mellberg, Granqvist, Martin Olsson
Svensson, Kallstrom
Larsson, Ibrahimovic, Toivonen
Elmander

ENGLAND
Hart
Johnson, Terry, Lescott, Cole
Milner, Gerrard, Parker, Oxlade-Chamberlain
Young
Welbeck

The Sweden team spokesman, Hans Hultman, has confirmed that Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be fit to start against England despite missing parts of Wednesday's training session due to an injury to his left thigh.

Erik Hamren could opt to restore Johan Elmander to the starting XI ahead of Markus Rosenberg, who was preferred against Ukraine. Elmander had been recovering from a fractured foot and only returned to full training two days before Sweden's opening match in Kiev.

Many were surprised to see 24-year-old midfielder Rasmus Elm preferred to the more experienced Anders Svensson, who has won 128 caps, against the co-host. Hamren could reunite the Elfsborg captain with Kim Kallstrom in the center of the park.

Roy Hodgson is not expected to make wholesale changes to the England side that drew 1-1 with France. Danny Welbeck should continue alongside Ashley Young in attack, while James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are likely to retain their places on the wings.

Hodgson admitted to having concerns over how fatigue might affect central midfielders Scott Parker and Steven Gerrard but they are unlikely to be rested against Sweden. Jordan Henderson is the duo's obvious deputy but Milner and Phil Jones could also fill in.

  • Sweden eliminated England from Euro '92 in the final game of the group stage as a late winning goal by Tomas Brolin sealed a 2-1 victory.

  • The fate of Erik Hamren's team in Poland and Ukraine is hanging in the balance after a loss to co-host Ukraine. Defeat against England would end its hopes of progressing to the quarterfinals.
  • Olof Mellberg has now played in more European Championship finals games than any other Sweden player after notching up his 11th appearance against Ukraine. He had previously shared the record with Henrik Larsson and Fredrik Ljungberg.
  • Zlatan Ibrahimovic (pictured right), meanwhile, overtook Larsson as his country's top goalscorer at European Championship finals. Ibrahimovic's strike in Kiev was his fifth tournament goal.
  • England's 1-0 win over Sweden at Wembley in November last year was its first in 43 years. The team has never beaten the Scandinavian nation in a World Cup or European Championship match (including qualifiers), drawing five times and losing twice.
  • Roy Hodgson began his managerial career in Sweden with Allsvenskan side Halmstad. He led the club to league titles in 1976 and 1979 and later returned to the country to guide Malmo to five consecutive championships between 1985 and 1989.
  • Steven Gerrard is the fifth England player to play at three European Championships. Tony Adams, Alan Shearer, Gary Neville and Sol Campbell have all previously achieved the feat.
  • James Milner covered more ground than any other England player against France, running 11,800 meters. Gerrard was next on 10,474 meters, with Ashley Young just behind on 10,266 meters.
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