Preview: Sweden vs Ukraine
As Sweden, riding high on an unbeaten streak, prepare to tackle Ukraine's surprise package at Hampden Park, this UEFA Euro 2020 Round of 16 clash promises to be a captivating encounter where tactical prowess meets unpredictable flair.
Sweden
Sweden defeated Poland on Match Day 3 in a thrilling encounter that saw the Swedes surrender a two-goal lead late in the game, only to secure all three points in stoppage time. Emil Forsberg scored early (2'), catching the Polish defense off-guard as his shot found the back of the net.
Poland almost equalized but was thwarted when Robert Lewandowski hit the crossbar twice from close range. The Swedish goalkeeper, Robin Olsen, was called into action with two remarkable saves before Piotr Zielinski's shot was deflected wide.
Sweden responded with an attack of their own, resulting in a second goal after a dazzling run by Dejan Kulusevski set up Forsberg (59'). Robert Lewandowski (61') halved Sweden's lead with a stunning goal and later (84') completed his brace.
However, Viktor Claesson (90'+ET) clinched the win for Sweden, ensuring their unbeaten run extended to six games across all competitions. The team is expected to line up in a traditional 4-4-2 formation under coach Janne Andersson in their upcoming match.
Robin Quaison, who replaced Berg in the previous match, is likely to feature alongside Alexander Isak in the attacking line-up against Ukraine.
Ukraine
Ukraine defied the odds to secure a spot in the last sixteen, crossing the line by the finest of margins. The Blue and Yellow collected 3 points with a victory and two defeats by the end of Match Day 3, recording 1 win, 0 draws, and 2 losses.
Their last game saw a narrow 1-0 loss to Austria, courtesy of a goal from Christoph Baumgartner in the 21st minute. Baumgartner capitalized on an inch-perfect cross from a corner kick by captain David Alaba.
Despite taking an unlikely route to the last 16, the Ukrainians are capable of surprises, as evidenced by their close call in holding the Netherlands to a draw. Coach Andriy Shevchenko swapped from a 4-3-2-1 formation against the Netherlands to its variant, 4-3-3, for the matches against North Macedonia and Austria.
Coming off a form that reads: DWWLWL, the attacking trio of Malinovsky, Yaremchuk, and Yarmolenko are expected to return in Shevchenko's 4-3-3 formation on Tuesday.
Team form
Showing the latest five games—giving you a quick look at recent performance trends. Teams in good form tend to do well in the next match.
Team Comparison
Side-by-side assessment of team statistics, including goals, attacks, and more. This allows you to directly compare key performance metrics. Analyzing these stats can reveal patterns and strengths that might influence the outcome.