Euro 2020 Group E
GROUP E
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[Team Jersey Images © Soccerphile]
Spain
Winners in 2008 and 2012, Spain have slipped in recent years but a 6-0 win over Germany in the Nations League in 2020 has restored some much-needed confidence going into the tournament.
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Spain Kit 1 |
Spain Kit 2 |
Spain v Sweden, 14th June, Seville
Spain v Poland, 19th June, Seville
Spain v Slovakia, 23rd June, Seville
Coach
Luis Enrique
Record
1980, 1988, 2004 First Round, 2016 Second Round, 1996, 2000 Quarter-final, 1984 Finalists, 1964, 2008, 2012 Winners
Men to watch
When it comes to form, nobody matches Atleti's Marcos Llorente and Europa League winner Gerard Moreno. Llorente hit double figures in both goals and assists in La Liga, while Moreno finished joint-second in the top scorers charts, though eleven of them were from the spot.
Unlike in previous tournaments, Spain's expectations are relatively low. A quarter-final appearance should be a normality, but anything beyond that will count as success.
How they qualified
Spain ended their Group F campaign in a routine manner, coming ahead of Norway and Sweden.
On the sidelines
Defensive talisman Sergio Ramos did not recover from calf and hamstring trouble to make the squad.
Formation
4-3-3
Analysis
As far as omissions go, Spain could have not excluded a bigger name than Sergio Ramos. Accompanied by the retirement of Gerard Piqué, Spain's defence looks worryingly short of experience and quality. Although César Azpilicueta has aged like a fine wine and will no doubt play a key role, the centre-backs, whether that be Aymeric Laporte or Pau Torres, have little international game-time under their belts.
Unsurprisingly, Spain have many gems in midfield. Captain Sergio Busquets' vision and his range of passing is something to behold and despite having a turbulent first-season at Liverpool, Thiago is a class act. Marcos Llorente has emerged as one of the best box-to-box players around after Diego Simeone gave him a free-role at the start of the 2020/21 season. But perhaps the player who will grab the headlines is Pedri, touted as the "next Iniesta" at the youthful age of 18.
Going forward, Gerard Moreno will be crucial. Combined with his deadly left-foot and occasional elegance, the 29 year-old is a box of tricks and is bound to spark brightly at these Euros. Via Zagreb, Dani Olmo has entered into the limelight through an unconventional route. RB Leipzig's number 25 has been an instant hit in east Germany and his clever passing will fill Isco's boots seamlessly.
Squad
Goalkeepers: David de Gea (Manchester United), Unai Simón (Athletic Bilbao), Robert Sánchez (Brighton).
Defenders: Jordi Alba (Barcelona), César Azpilicueta (Chelsea), José Gayà (Valencia), Eric García (Manchester City), Diego Llorente (Leeds United), Pau Torres (Villarreal), Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City).
Midfielders: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Koke (Atlético Madrid), Thiago (Liverpool), Rodri (Manchester City), Fabián Ruiz (Napoli), Marcos Llorente (Atlético Madrid), Pedri (Barcelona).
Strikers: Álvaro Morata (Juventus), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig), Gerard Moreno (Villarreal), Ferran Torres (Manchester City), Adama Traoré (Wolves), Pablo Sarabia (PSG) .
Sweden
Zlatan was on the verge of coming out of international retirement after a fine season in Milan. His absense through injury is a blow but there's plenty of experience in this team to cover for the great man.
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Sweden Kit 1 |
Sweden Kit 2 |
Sweden v Spain, 14th June, Seville
Sweden v Slovakia, 18th June, Saint Petersburg
Sweden v Poland, 23rd June, Saint Petersburg
Coach
Janne Andersson
Record
2000, 2008, 2012, 2016 First Round, 2004 Quarter-final, 1992 Semi-final.
Men to watch
As the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimović was confirmed in mid-May, the goalscoring mantle will now be held by Emil Forsberg and Dejan Kulusevski.
The much-maligned Victor Lindelöf of Manchester United will no doubt feature regularly.
Although it is clear that Poland have the bigger firepower, Sweden have made a habit of worming their way through the group stages. Expect the same here.
How they qualified
Sweden were drawn alongside Spain, who they will face first up, and Norway in Group F. They were beautifully sandwiched by the two in second place.
On the sidelines
Zlatan Ibrahimović's much-heralded return to the national team was kiboshed when the 39 year-old went down with a knee injury in May.
Formation
4-4-2
Analysis
Sweden's relative success in the 2018 World Cup was based on its well-marshalled back-line guided by the man-mountain that is Andreas Granqvist. The captain is the heart and soul of the team and the likes of Ludwig Augustinsson and Pontus Jansson will be assured by the ex-Wigan man's presence.
In midfield, RB Leipzig's Emil Forsberg is a class act and his creative flair will feed Dejan Kulusevski and Marcus Berg with big chances.
Everton's Robin Olsen, who was as steady as they come in Russia, now looks anything but, failing to dislodge Jordan Pickford's from the No.1 spot at Goodison. His lack of confidence will be a major concern.
Viktor Claesson may surprise a few pundits and sceptics with his clever runs into the box and cool finishing.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Robin Olsen (Everton), Karl-Johan Johnsson (Copenhagen), Kristoffer Nordfeldt (Gençlerbirliği).
Defenders: Mikael Lustig (AIK), Victor Lindelöf (Manchester United), Andreas Granqvist (Helsingborgs), Pierre Bengtsson (Vejle), Ludwig Augustinsson (Werder Bremen), Filip Helander (Rangers), Emil Krafth (Newcastle), Pontus Jansson (Brentford), Marcus Danielson (Dalian Pro).
Midfielders: Jens Cajuste (Midtjylland), Viktor Claesson (Krasnodar), Albin Ekdal (Sampdoria), Emil Forsberg (RB Leipzig), Dejan Kulusevski (Juventus), Sebastian Larsson (AIK), Kristoffer Olsson (Krasnodar), Ken Sema (Watford), Mattias Svanberg (Bologna), Gustav Svensson (Guangzhou City)
Strikers: Marcus Berg (Krasnodar), Alexander Isak (Real Sociedad), Jordan Larsson (Spartak Moscow), Robin Quaison (Mainz 05).
Poland
Despite having goal machine Robert Lewandowski in their ranks, Poland surprisingly struggle to score. Paulo Sousa has taken the coaching reins from Jerzy Brezeczek five months before Euro 2020 kicks off. He will be hoping he can recharge the team's attack to score the goals necessary to take the Biało-czerwoni (The White and Reds) into the knockout stage.
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Poland Kit 1 |
Poland Kit 2 |
Poland Kit 3 |
Poland v Slovakia, 14th June, Saint Petersburg
Poland v Spain, 19th June, Seville
Poland v Sweden, 23rd June, Saint Petersburg
Coach
Paulo Sousa
Record
2008, 2012 First Round, 2016 Quarter-Final
Men to watch
Who else but Robert Lewandowski? On the last day of the Bundesliga season, he broke Gerd Müller's 49-year record of scoring 40 goals in a single campaign by tapping in his 41st against Augsburg.
Poland's last outing in France was solid if not spectacular and it led them to the quarter-finals. A repeat of that is certainly possible, but a semi-final appearance is unrealistic considering its lack of squad depth.
How they qualified
Poland breezed through Group G despite the odd hiccup in Ljubljana. Lewandowski and Krzysztof Piątek, who is omitted through injury, scored 10 goals between them.
On the sidelines
Manager Paulo Sousa has a wealth of club managerial experience and his CV includes Leicester and Swansea. But none of them are from Portugal, his home nation.
Formation
3-5-2 or 4-4-2
Analysis
Without the injured Krzysztof Piątek, Poland will be ever more reliant on Lewandowski's brilliance. Arkadiusz Milik is a consistent marksman, however, and Polish fans will hope to see his Marseille form and not the one from the back end of his Napoli career.
Midfield is the obvious weak spot. Piotr Zieliński is elegant on the ball and Leeds' Mateusz Klich has an eye for goal but West Brom fans will not remember Grzegorz Krychowiak's time at the Hawthorns with fond memories.
Poland are known for producing quality keepers and this generation is no different, as either Wojciech Szczęsny or Łukasz Fabiański will do an adequate job between the sticks.
There is a slight concern at the back as Kamil Glik still holds the responsibility of being the authoritarian figure while neither Southampton's Jan Bednarek nor Dynamo Kyiv's Tomasz Kędziora has found their feet at the international stage.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Wojciech Szczęsny (Juventus), Łukasz Skorupski (Bologna), Łukasz Fabiański (West Ham).
Defenders: Tomasz Kędziora (Dynamo Kiev), Tymoteusz Puchacz (Lech Poznań), Paweł Dawidowicz (Hellas Verona), Jan Bednarek (Southampton), Kamil Piątkowski (Raków Częstochowa), Maciej Rybus (Lokomotiv Moscow), Michał Helik (Barnsley), Kamil Glik (Benevento), Bartosz Bereszyński (Sampdoria).
Midfielders: Karol Linetty (Torino), Grzegorz Krychowiak (Lokomotiv Moscow), Kamil Jóźwiak (Derby), Mateusz Klich (Leeds United), Kacper Kozłowski (Pogoń Szczecin), Piotr Zieliński (Napoli), Przemysław Płacheta (Norwich City), Przemysław Frankowski (Chicago Fire), Jakub Moder (Brighton).
Strikers: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), Arkadiusz Milik (Marseille), Dawid Kownacki (Fortuna Düsseldorf), Jakub Świerczok (Piast Gliwice), Karol Świderski (PAOK) .
Slovakia
Slovakia came through the play-offs beating both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Pavel Hapal was replaced as coach between these two games by Štefan Tarkovič.
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Slovakia Kit 1 |
Slovakia Kit 2 |
Slovakia v Poland, 14th June, Saint Petersburg
Slovakia v Sweden, 18th June, Saint Petersburg
Slovakia v Spain, 23rd June, Seville
Coach
Štefan Tarkovič
Record
2016 Second Round.
Men to watch
Marek Hamšík is the most well-known performer in the squad but surely he won't be at his dazzling best as he was at Euro 2016. Milan Škriniar, on the other hand, has been touted as a great centre-back for a long time and now has the Scudetto to boot.
If Slovakia were to repeat their heroics back in 2016 and reach the Round of 16, that will signify success. Winning one of the two games in Saint Petersburg is crucial.
How they qualified
As Wales pipped them to second place in Group E, Slovakia had to do it the hard way and enter Path B in the play-offs. Two narrow wins against the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland were just about enough.
On the sidelines
Captain Marek Hamšík joined IFK Göteborg with massive fanfare. So massive in fact, 1,400 items of Hamšík related merchandise was sold in just a few hours after he signed.
Formation
4-3-3
Analysis
With Michal Ďuriš' goalscoring prowess being dubious to put it kindly, coach Štefan Tarkovič will need his defenders to step up and protect Newcastle's Martin Dúbravka in goal.
Luckily for the Slovaks, they have just the right man in the form of Milan Škriniar, who has no doubt gained better defensive know-how under the guidance of now-departed Antonio Conte at Inter Milan.
Tomáš Hubočan is the most likely to supplement Škriniar, but the one-time Marseille man is on the decline and winning the Cypriot First Division with Omonia is not an impressive achievement in the grand scheme of things.
In order to qualify for the knockouts, Slovakia will need a hero from somewhere and there is no obvious candidate once Hamšík's threat is nullified.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Martin Dúbravka (Newcastle United), Marek Rodák (Fulham), Dušan Kuciak, (Lechia Gdańsk).
Defenders: Peter Pekarík (Hertha Berlin), Denis Vavro (Huesca), Milan Škriniar (Inter Milan), Tomáš Hubočan (Omonia), Dávid Hancko (Sparta Prague), Martin Koscelník (Slovan Liberec), Ľubomír Šatka (Lech Poznań), Martin Valjent (Mallorca).
Midfielders: Marek Hamšík (IFK Göteborg), Juraj Kucka (Parma), Vladimir Weiss (Slovan Bratislava), Róbert Mak (Ferencváros), Patrik Hrošovský (Genk), Stanislav Lobotka (Napoli), László Bénes (Augsburg), Ondrej Duda (Köln), Ján Greguš (Minnesota United), Lukáš Haraslín (Sassuolo), Jakub Hromada (Slavia Prague), Tomáš Suslov (Groningen).
Strikers: Michal Ďuriš (Omonia), Róbert Boženík (Feyenoord), Ivan Schranz (Jablonec).
Compiled by Sean O'Conor & Joji Imamiya
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