Spain v Sweden final: All you need to know
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Article summary
Get the lowdown on the WU19 EURO final: what the coaches think, how the teams got there, their final pedigree and the players that could make the difference.
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Article body
• Spain and Sweden both bidding for their second WU19 EURO title
• The sides met in the 2012 final in Turkey, Sweden winning in extra time
• Skipper Nathalie Björn introduces the Sweden squad
• Spain captain Sandra Hernández introduces her team-mates
What they say
• Spain coach Jorge Vilda: Football has a habit of giving you second chances and we think this is ours for 2012. I speak on a daily basis with my father [Ángel, the coach three years ago] but he's not overly keen on giving advice. He'll be delighted if we win, though. This is probably the best team we've had in recent years, and they're all so keen on getting the title after coming so close before.
Matches like these come down to the small details. We've been looking after the players and making sure they're 100% after the semi-final against France. We're not getting to mess up on the small details tomorrow. We haven't trained today – the work is already done. The only thing we need to prepare the team for now is to be mentally ready.
• Sweden coach Calle Barrling: We improved our attacking game last time out against Germany, but were also reminded of the importance of defending – there were 20 minutes in the second half when it wasn't Sweden playing. I don't expect there will be so many chances in the final. I had Spain as pre-tournament favourites so I'm not surprised they are here with us.
My team are similar in many ways to the side in 2012. This side show even more passion for the game, they want to get involved; three years ago we were a bit better at duelling. Every team is unique, but both played the Swedish way. It's important that we have keen legs, not only for 45 minutes but for 90 and even 120 minutes. You need it at the end of a tournament.
Did you know?
• Nine of Spain's squad finished runners-up to Germany at the 2014 WU19 EURO under Vilda.
• The Spain team beaten by Barrling's Sweden in 2012 were led by Vilda's father, Ángel.
• Sweden keeper Emma Holmgren scored the winning spot kick against Vilda's Spain in the 2013 WU17 EURO semis.
• Sweden forward Stina Blackstenius has scored 18 goals this campaign, already a competition record.
• Blackstenius has scored more than half of Sweden's 33 goals this term; Spain's 44 goals have been shared between 11 players.
Story so far
• Spain: Spain laid down a marker in their opener, even if a 4-0 victory over Norway did not tell the whole story – in terms of shots the teams were equal. England gave Vilda's side a scare but a 3-1 win all but sealed a place in the last four.
Spain's finishing deserted them against Germany as a narrow defeat consigned them to second in the group, and they missed a few openings in the last four, too. No matter: after five expertly-taken spot kicks, France's Marie-Charlotte Léger blazed over the bar and Spain advanced.
• Sweden: Sweden eased to 3-0 victory over Israel, but their meeting with Denmark was altogether tighter, with only two shots on target, both for Sweden. Crucially, one went in as Filippa Angeldal converted from the spot after a foul on Blackstenius.
With progress assured, Barrling rotated for the final group outing – every squad player has featured at some point – which France edged 1-0. The best was yet to come in the semis as Sweden twice came from behind to draw 3-3 and force extra time against Germany before running out 4-2 victors on penalties.
Previous finals involving the sides
• 2014: Spain 0-1 Netherlands (Miedema 21), Oslo
• 2012: Sweden 1-0 Spain (Diaz 108), Antalya
• 2009: Sweden 0-2 England (Duggan 33, Nobbs 37), Borisov
• 2004: Germany 1-2 Spain (Krahn 45; Boho 28, Iturregui 53), Vantaa
Competition head-to-head (qualifying included): Spain won 2, Sweden won 2, drawn 1
Key players
• Spain: Marta Turmo (defender, San Gabriel), Alba Redondo (midfielder, Albacete), Nahikari García (forward, Real Sociedad)
• Sweden: Nathalie Björn (defender, AIK), Tove Almqvist (midfielder, Linköping), Stina Blackstenius (forward, Linköping)
How you can follow it
UEFA.com will have updates here. The match is also broadcast live on Eurosport but if you are in Israel then come down to the Netanya Municipal Stadium. Tickets cost 10ILS (€2.50) and are available at the stadiums or via this link (Hebrew site).