Euro 2008 Preview: Sweden - Spain

Spain are treading carefully behind the scenes while their supporters revel in their impressive opening, while their display against Russia appears to have worried Sweden.

Luis Aragonés had to hold a squad meeting after his team's first win in midweek and tell them to calm the euphoria that he knew was about to come from the fans and media.

Being billed as tournament favourites and making a good start is nothing strange to a nation that bills almost every tournament as their best chance to finally win something major and this year is no different.

Lessons are trying to be heeded from the coaches and the players with warnings about considering themselves already having shown enough to reach the final amid the praise that has been heaped on them.

Whether it is cautious optimism or in fact cautious pessimism, their is the desire to finally announce that they are ready to take the competition by the scruff, but they know that could be a huge mistake.

However, good David Villa was alongside Fernando Torres and however impressive the midfield were at creating the chances for the forwards, there are still doubts and questions being raised.

It is a typical trait that has caused so many star-studded Spanish teams to falter and Aragonés will do well to keep his players well protected from the hype.

Strong Fan Base

Unusually, a huge number of supporters have followed la Furia Roja to the tournament and attend training daily dressed in fancy costumes and with banners and flags of support.

That fervour appears to have gone down well with the squad who are taking a lot of time out to have their photos taken and to sign autographs.

All this in the build-up to a game that they are expected to win comfortably, given their performance against Russia, should build confidence and the Swedes are playing their part.

In an unusual move, the Spanish media are reporting that Lars Lagerbäck and his players have basically said that they are going to be very happy with a draw in Innsbruck on Saturday.

Whether it is realism or a crafty strategy remains to be seen, but it is clear that a point against Spain would set the Swedes up to go through in their final game against Russia.

Previous Meetings

These two teams know each other well as they met in the qualifiers for Euro 2008 and it was Sweden that took control of the group when they won 2-0 in Solna in October, 2006.

That result saw Aragonés opt to make a major decision, after it came on the back of defeat in Northern Ireland, and he dropped all the veterans that he allegedly felt were undermining his authority.

The most notable of those to be omitted and never chosen again was Raúl and despite a spirited media campaign from the Madrilenian press, the Real striker has remained outcast.

Spain avenged that reverse in November last year when a 3-0 victory in the Bernabéu was enough to book their place to Austria and Switzerland.

After going unbeaten since the defeat in the Råsunda Stadion, it means that Sweden are the last team to have defeated Spain and should give them some confidence.

TEAM NEWS

Sweden

Niklas Alexanersson has joined Deportivo's Christian Wilhelmsson on the treatment table and will miss the game against the Spanish with Lagerbäck is expected to draft in Fredrik Stoor to cover. Wilhelmsson's absence may see Sebastian Larsson make his first start.

Starting XI: TBA

Spain

David Villa dislocated his finger clebrating his second goal and Torres refused to shake Aragonés hand, but despite all the coverage of both incidents, both players are fit and will reclaim their places in what is expected to be an unchanged side.

Starting XI: TBA

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sweden

Henrik Larsson - The veteran forward could use his guile and craft to unlock a Spanish defence that allowed Russia chances. He will certainly know how Carles Puyol operates and will be able to bring in the powerful Zlatan Ibrahimovic to trouble Carlos Marchena.

Spain

David Villa - It could have been either forward or any one of the midfield, but the Valencia striker has won himself so many headlines after his opening day hat-trick that everyone will want to see if the can add to that tally.

PREDICTION

This will be a lot more difficult for the Spanish than their fans believe, but the players will be expecting a tough encounter. The Swedes will have analysed their opponents' strength and weaknesses and have more experience than the Russians in order to thwart it.

Sweden 1 - 2 Spain

Lucas Brown, Goal.com