Sabasports Match Preview
International Friendly: Denmark vs Sweden
Kickoff Time: 2024-06-06 01:00 (HKT)
Source:REUTERS/Hannah McKay
The 2024 European Championship in Germany will commence in the early morning of June 15, Beijing time, and all participating countries are actively preparing for the competition.
Denmark have qualified for the main draw of this European Championship and are in the same group as Slovenia, England, and Serbia. Based on the 26-player list submitted by the Danish Football Association, several well-known players from the previous European Championship have been selected. In the goalkeeper position, Kasper Schmeichel is a formidable player who will provide solid protection for their defense. In the defense line, Simon Kjaer, with his experience, brings strong defensive abilities and leadership qualities to them. In midfield, Christian Eriksen and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg are the core players, whose organizing and distributing abilities will determine Denmark’s offensive rhythm. Up front, Rasmus Hojlund, the Manchester United star, possesses excellent scoring ability and will create opportunities for them to score. Denmark have a rich football heritage and previously won the European Championship in 1992. Despite Eriksen’s cardiac arrest, they displayed their tenacious fighting spirit and team unity by reaching the semi-finals in the last European Championship. It is expected that Denmark will continue to employ the 5-3-2 system, focusing on defensive counterattacks to seek opportunities. With steady performance, it is believed that Denmark can advance beyond the group stage.
Sweden underwent a coaching change after failing to qualify for the European Championship. Janne Andersson was dismissed, and former AC Milan super-substitute and Danish star Jon Dahl Tomasson took over, becoming the second non-local coach in Swedish history. However, in the early stages of Tomasson’s tenure, Sweden did not make significant progress. In their first match, they suffered a 2-5 defeat against Portugal, and then only managed to secure a narrow victory over the weaker Albania, with a one-goal margin. Tomasson’s current priority is to train young players, adjust the formation, and prepare for the 2026 World Cup. Based on the list announced by Sweden, 18-year-old Matteo Perez Vinlof from Bayern’s second team has been selected for the first time, and he is expected to make his debut for the national team. If Sweden hope to undergo a renaissance under Tomasson, they will need to build the team around a young midfield and defense combination.
According to UEFA regulations, the final 26-man squad for each participating country must be submitted to UEFA before June 7. Hence, there may still be changes in Denmark’s roster. This friendly match has become the last opportunity for players to strive for performance, so their fighting spirit is positive. On the other hand, after a long season, Sweden players are about to embark on their holidays, which might lead to a relaxed mindset and potentially hinder their ability to compete at their best. With these factors in play, it will be no doubt that Denmark are the favourite to win this match.
Denmark’s Last 5 Games: WDLWW
24-03-27 Denmark 2-0 Faroe Islands
24-03-24 Denmark 0-0 Switzerland
23-11-21 Northern Ireland 2-0 Denmark
23-11-18 Denmark 2-1 Slovenia
23-10-18 San Marino 1-2 Denmark
Sweden’s Last 5 Games: WLWWL
24-03-26 Sweden 1-0 Albania
24-03-22 Portugal 5-2 Sweden
24-01-13 Sweden 2-1 Estonia
23-11-20 Sweden 2-0 Estonia
23-11-17 Azerbaijan 3-0 Sweden
Head To Head Record:
20-11-12 Denmark 2-0 Sweden
18-06-03 Sweden 0-0 Denmark
18-01-12 Sweden 1-0 Denmark
15-11-18 Denmark 2-2 Sweden
15-11-15 Sweden 2-1 Denmark
Prediction: Denmark to win