Slovakia are the only team in Group E to register a win and get all three points after they overcame Poland on matchday one.
But Sweden bravely fought for a draw against one of the favourites to win, Spain and will no doubt take confidence from that draw that they can get the all-important win against their opponents.
- Head to head:
In five of their previous meetings, Sweden have won twice and drawn three times, scoring nine goals and conceding just the one.
- Odds:
Sweden are 1/80 to win the game and Slovakia are 4/75 to win the game.
- Previous defensive record:
Their 0-0 draw against Spain has shown that Sweden are strong at the back and have conceded just once in 2021 (W5, D1) They can move within one game of Andersson’s longest unbeaten streak in his five years in charge if they avoid defeat. Slovakia can also be confident that they have only conceded one goal in their first game but will be looking to keep Sweden out completely.
- Players to watch:
Alexander Isak (Sweden) became the youngest player to score for his side in a 6-0 win over Slovakia in 2017 (17 years, 113 days) – eight of his 17 league goals and that friendly strike were match openers. Slovakia defender Milan Škriniar’s first three international goals have come in his last three competitive appearances for his nation, two with his head.
- Team News:
Mattias Svanberg and Dejan Kulusevski are both a doubt with illness and Kristoffer Olsson (Sweden) is also a doubt with a knee injury. Whereas Ivan Schranz (Slovakia) is out with a thigh injury.
- Predicted Line-ups:
Sweden possible line-up: Olsen; Lustig, Lindelöf, Danielson, Augustinsson; S Larsson, Ekdal, Olsson, Forsberg; Isak, Berg
Slovakia possible line-up: Dúbravka; Pekarík, Šatka, Škriniar, Hubočan; Kucka, Hromada; Haraslín, Hamšík, Mak; Duda
Team view:
Štefan Tarkovič, Slovakia coach: “I told the players that victories such as the one over Poland should be enjoyed, but it is true that after five minutes of fame, comes 20 minutes of work. Always!”
Kristoffer Olsson, Sweden midfielder: “Slovakia plays differently (to Spain) and that means we have a different game plan, which means we can reset ourselves.”
Last six form guide:
Sweden: DWWWWW
Slovakia: WDDWDD
A tight game should be expected between these two especially because each of Sweden’s last five European Championship group games has produced under 2.5 goals (W1, D2, L2).
Although Sweden’s draw against Spain has seemed to come at a price with some of the injuries they may have, they will still have belief in the squad that they can get a result in this game.
Slovakia will have other ideas though as they will be looking to add to their shocking matchday one win over Poland, even if they did have the man advantage for nearly 30 minutes of the game.
Yet all positives point to the fact that three of their last four, all-time European Championship group stage games have finished with a 2-1 score line, the same as it was against Poland, something which they will look to replicate against the Swedes as long as they are on the winning side no doubt.
However, a draw could be enough to see them qualify, given how their final game in this group is against Spain and since Tarkovič’s permanent appointment he is unbeaten in eight of his nine games with Slovakia (W4, D4, L1.).
