Euro Cup 2012: Team Profile Sweden (Know the Participating Team Sweden)

The world most exciting Tournament has already begun and we have seen some exceptional games till date. All 16 qualified European giants are fighting for the cup and every team will play to win the tournament.

www.anantasports.com is bringing the profiles of all the participating team to its readers and here it is Sweden. Sweden is taking part in the tournaments under the guidance of Coach Erik Hamren.

 Erik Hamren’s side qualifies for the Euro 2012 as runner up of Group E behind World cup semifinalist Netherlands while Sweden was ahead of Hungary and Finland. Needing a win against the Netherlands to ensure Euro 2012 qualification as best runners-up, and thus avoid the potentially treacherous play-offs, Sweden produced the goods (a 3-2 victory in Stockholm) when it mattered against a team who had won every match of their group E campaign up to that point.

Going 2-1 down soon after half time, they nervelessly delivered an immediate response. Within 60 seconds Sebastian Larsson buried a penalty before, just a minute later, PSV Eindhoven forward Ola Toivonen put the determined hosts back in front - and his delirious nation on their way to Euro 2012.

Swedish Team for Euro 2012

Sweden were inspired by playing in front of their home fans in 1992, beating England 2-1 in the group stages as they made the last four. Unfortunately an even more talented Germany side - the reigning world champions - stood in the way of Thomas Brolin and Co, beating the hosts 3-2 in Stockholm with two Karlheinz Reidle goals. In 2004, Zlatan Ibrahimovic joined national hero Henrik Larsson at the head of Sweden's attack for the Euros, providing one of the more potent strike forces in the competition. However, what would turn out to be their second best ever run came to an end at the hands of the Netherlands, who ousted the Swedes in the quarter finals on penalties.

Coach: Erik Hamren

Erik Hamren has proved his worth after taking over from Lars Lagerback when Sweden failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. One of the most respected coaches in Scandanavia, he has managed teams in Norway, Denmark and Sweden. Took Aalborg to the Danish title - and into the European Champions League - back in 2008.

Swedish Coach Erik Hamren

Captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic

One of the most outspoken names in European football,Zlatan Ibrahimovic is Sweden's totem. No question - the former Barcelona striker has rich talent. But doubts remain about his ability to apply it on the biggest stage

Sweden Captain Sebastian Larsson

Player to watch Sebastian larsson

Since finally getting some much overdue first-team action under Alex McLeish at Birmingham in 2010-11, Seb Larsson has gradually blossomed into an extremely talented midfielder – the only problem being his fiery temper.

But while the dead-ball expert's outspoken nature tends to earn him a place in the referee's book more often that not, Sweden will look to the Sunderland man for inspiration come Poland and Ukraine, and with the player turning 27 just as the tournament comes around, age could lend a hand in keeping his opinions under wraps when needed.

Swedish Player Sebastian Larsson

How Sweden Qualify:
Sweden Qualify for the Tournament as runner up of Group E behind netherland and being the best second position team after winning final match against Netherlands.

GROUP E	GP	W	D	L	GD	PTS
1	Netherlands (Q)	10	9	0	1	29	27
2	Sweden (Q)	10	8	0	2	20	24
3	Hungary	10	6	1	3	8	19
4	Finland	10	3	1	6	0	10
5	Moldova	10	3	0	7	-4	9
6	San Marino	10	0	0	10	-53	0

Sep 3, 2010: Sweden 2-0 Hungary
Sep 7, 2010: Sweden 6-0 San Marino
Oct 12, 2010: Netherlands 4-1 Sweden
Mar 29, 2011: Sweden 2-1 Moldova
Jun 3, 2011: Moldova 1-4 Sweden
Jun 7, 2011: Sweden 5-0 Finland
Sep 2, 2011: Hungary 2-1 Sweden
Sep 6, 2011: San Marino 0-5 Sweden
Oct 7, 2011: Finland 1-2 Sweden
Oct 11, 2011: Sweden 3-2 Netherlands

Jersy

Brand: Umbro
Home Jersey: Yellow with green vertical lines
Away Jersey: Dark blue with yellow diagonal stripe

Coach: Erik Hamren

Sweden Squad For Euro Cup 2012:
Goalkeepers: Andreas Isaksson (PSV Eindhoven), Johan Wiland (FC Copenhagen), Par Hansson (Helsingborg)

Defenders: Mikael Lustig (Celtic), Olof Mellberg (Olympiakos), Andreas Granqvist (Genoa), Martin Olsson (Blackburn), Jonas Olsson (West Bromwich Albion), Mikael Antonsson (Bologna), Behrang Safari (Anderlecht)

Midfielders: Rasmus Elm (AZ Alkmaar), Sebastian Larsson (Sunderland), Anders Svensson (Elfsborg), Kim Kallstrom (Lyon), Pontus Wernbloom (CSKA Moscow), Samuel Holmen (Istanbul), Emir Bajrami (Twente), Christian Wilhelmsson (Al Hilal)

Forwards: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (AC Milan), Johan Elmander (Galatasaray), Tobias Hysen (IFK Goteborg), Ola Toivonen (PSV Eindhoven), Markus Rosenberg (Werder Bremen)

Style of play: The safety-first tactics employed by former coach Lars Lagerback have been replaced by a more open and attacking style under Erik Hamren. Sweden plays higher up the field, aggressively pressing their opponents to win back possession, and relies on the counter and a quick passing game , as well as set pieces, to generate scoring chances. The outside fullbacks are encouraged to venture forward, giving the attack more width. Interestingly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic doesn't play as the lead striker. Instead, he's deployed in a more withdrawn role in the centre, where Hamren feels the team can make better use of his creativity and goal-scoring ability.