Spain are not essentially the most feared facet in Europe that swept all earlier than them between 2008 and 2012. A brand new technology is now tasked with restoring their former glories at Euro 2020. Here’s what to anticipate from Group E with Sweden, Poland and Slovakia additionally hoping for a spot within the final 16.
Spain
The three-time winners have didn’t even make the quarter-finals of their previous three tournaments.
Luis Enrique is trying ahead quite than to the previous for inspiration as he controversially neglected Sergio Ramos attributable to his health issues and for the primary time Spain head to a significant match with no Real Madrid participant of their ranks.
Instead there’s a crop of key gamers plying their commerce overseas. Manchester City’s Ferran Torres scored a hat-trick in a 6-0 demolition of Germany within the Nations League in October, whereas his membership teammate Aymeric Laporte has switched his allegiances from France.
Bilbao was ditched as a number metropolis late on attributable to coronavirus restrictions, however La Furia Roja will get a hotter welcome in Seville for his or her three group video games.
Player to look at: Pau Torres
Few gamers on the continent come into the match on the excessive that Torres does after serving to his boyhood membership Villarreal to a primary ever main trophy by beating Manchester United to carry the Europa League.
United are considered one of a number of golf equipment monitoring the fashionable centre-back, who might seal a giant transfer if he impresses moving into the void left by Ramos and the retired Gerard Pique.
Sweden
Injury prevents Zlatan Ibrahimovic making his return to the worldwide stage, however the Swedes boast a brand new technology of strikers trying to fill the 39-year-old’s sneakers.
Alexander Isak scored 17 objectives in La Liga for Real Sociedad this season, whereas Jordan Larsson, son of former Celtic, Manchester United and Barcelona striker Henrik, is within the squad after a formidable marketing campaign with Spartak Moscow.
Juventus’ Dejan Kulusevski might add an additional inventive spark to the facet that reached the World Cup quarter-finals three years in the past, however elsewhere Janne Andersson can be reliant on an ageing core of Robin Olsen, Andreas Granquist, Mikel Lustig, Sebastian Larsson and Emil Forsberg regardless of concern over their kind and health.
Player to look at: Alexander Isak
Only 5 gamers, together with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Karim Benzema, scored extra objectives than Isak in La Liga this season. At 6ft 4in (1.90m) he possesses a powerful bodily presence for a 21-year-old, however is happier with the ball into ft than attacking crosses.
Slovakia
Slovakia made it out the group at their first look at a European Championship 5 years in the past, however will do properly to match that achievement this time.
Captain Marek Hamsik is not the power he was in his prime at Napoli and is now taking part in for IFK Gothenburg in Sweden.
A 2-1 win over Russia in World Cup qualifying in March reveals the Slovaks are succesful in a one-off sport, however that shock outcome adopted attracts with Cyprus and Malta.
Player to look at: Milan Skriniar
Slovakia will want clear sheets to upset the percentages and have considered one of Europe’s high centre-backs in Skriniar, who was important to Inter Milan’s first Serie A title for 10 years.
Poland
Quarter-finalists in France 5 years in the past, the Poles’ fortunes once more rely closely on the objectives of Robert Lewandowski.
They head into the match below new administration with the much-travelled Paulo Sousa changing Jerzy Brzeczek, who was sacked after shedding twice to Italy and the Netherlands within the Nations League, in January.
Midfielders Piotr Zielinski and Mateusz Klich starred for Napoli and Leeds respectively this season and could have the duty of guaranteeing Lewandowski will get the service he has turn into accustomed to a Bayern Munich.
Player to look at: Robert Lewandowski
After breaking Gerd Mueller’s 49-year-old file for objectives scored in a single Bundesliga marketing campaign, Lewandowski might put himself within the body for the Ballon d’Or many thought he was denied in 2020 when the award was scrapped as a result of coronavirus pandemic.
Despite scoring 66 worldwide objectives, Lewandowski is but to shine at a significant match, scoring simply as soon as on residence soil at Euro 2012 and Euro 2016.
Group E Fixtures (all occasions IST)
June 14, Monday – Poland vs Slovakia — (9:30pm, St Petersburg)
June 15, Tuesday – Spain vs Sweden — (12:30am, Seville)
June 18, Friday – Sweden vs Slovakia — (6:30pm, St Petersburg)
June 19, Saturday – Spain vs Poland — (12:30am, Seville)
June 23, Wednesday – Slovakia vs Spain — (9:30am, Seville)
June 23, Wednesday – Sweden vs Poland — (9:30am, St Petersburg)
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