Sweden's record against Group E opponents
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
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Sweden lost to Italy in Erik Hamrén's first match in charge and went down to Belgium in 2014, but have more positive memories of the Republic of Ireland.
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Qualifying: Third in Group G, beat Denmark in play-offs
Top scorer: Zlatan Ibrahimović (11 goals)
Qualifying record: P10 W5 D3 L2 F15 A9 Pts18, won 2-1 and drew 2-2 v Denmark in the play-offs
EURO best: semi-finals 1992
Last EURO: 2012 (group stage)
EURO appearances: 5 (1992, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012)
Sweden v Republic of Ireland (18.00CET, 13 June, Saint-Denis)
EURO P2 W1 D1 L0 F2 A1
World Cup P4 W3 D1 L0 F8 A3
Friendlies P4 W1 D0 L0 F6 A9
- The teams were drawn together in the same qualifying group for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Sweden came from behind to win 2-1 in Dublin, with goals from Johan Elmander and Anders Svensson, after drawing 0-0 in Solna, yet neither country made it to Brazil.
- Those were their first competitive meetings for 43 years. Sweden also had the better of their EURO '72 qualifiers, drawing 1-1 away and winning 1-0 in Solna thanks to a goal from Tom Turesson.
- Team-mates in the English Premier League include Martin Olsson and Wes Hoolahan at Norwich City, with Sebastian Larsson and Ola Toivonen playing alongside Ireland captain John O'Shea at Sunderland.
Sweden v Italy (15.00CET, 17 June, Toulouse)
EURO P8 W3 D2 L3 F9 A8
World Cup P2 W1 D0 L1 F3 A3
Friendlies P12 W2 D4 L6 F12 A16
- Erik Hamrén's first match as Sweden coach came against Italy in Cesena in November 2009, when defender Giorgio Chiellini scored the only goal in a friendly victory for the Azzurri. That was the teams' last meeting.
- Italy ended Sweden's UEFA EURO 2000 ambitions with a 2-1 group stage win but the Blågult gained a measure of revenge four years later in Portugal when a 1-1 draw, courtesy of Zlatan Ibrahimović's impudent equaliser, helped to eliminate the Azzurri.
- Sweden's 3-2 triumph in the 1950 FIFA World Cup group stage sent them through at Italy's expense. Twenty years later the roles were reversed as Italy won 1-0 in Toluca, Mexico – the last time the nations met in a World Cup fixture.
Sweden v Belgium (21.00CET, 22 June, Nice)
EURO P1 W0 D0 L1 F1 A2
World Cup P4 W2 D0 L2 F6 A5
Friendlies P10 W3 D2 L5 F23 A20
- Co-hosts Belgium, coached by Robert Waseige, defeated Sweden 2-1 in the opening match of UEFA EURO 2000 thanks to goals from Bart Goor and Émile Mpenza. However, neither team reached the quarter-finals.
- At the Friends Arena in June 2014, the countries met for the first time since that Brussels encounter. Visitors Belgium won 2-0 thanks to goals from Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard.
- Belgium defeated Sweden home and away in qualifying for the 1954 FIFA World Cup, with Sweden turning the tables for the 1962 tournament – although they did not qualify for the finals in Chile.