Ukraine vs Sweden Euro 2012 Preview
Ukraine vs Sweden Preview June 11th – Group D
The second Group D game in Euro 2012 features host nation against Sweden at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev on June 11th. Ukraine didn’t have to participate in the qualifying rounds for the European Championships because along with Poland they are a Euro 2012 host nation. The team used to belong to the former Soviet Union and played their first game as Ukraine in 1992. Since then they have appeared in just one World Cup, which was in 2006 and made it to the quarterfinal stage. This will be their first appearance in the European Championships.
Sweden qualified for the Euro 2012 event by being the best runner-up nation in the qualifying round. They managed to beat the previously unbeaten Holland 3-2 in their final qualifier in Group E and finished the stage with 24 points from eight wins and two losses. They have appeared in 11 World Cup tournaments with their best showing being runners up to Brazil in 1958 as the host nation. They have played in four Euro tournaments with a semi finals appearance in 1992 being their best showing. Sweden also won a gold medal in the 1948 Olympics in London and bronze medals in 1924 and 1952.
Sweden solid as usual
Sweden has a solid team with the likes of Martin Olsson, Jonas Olsson, Sebastian Larsson, Zlatan Ibrahimović, and Johan Elmander in the line up. Ukraine is also more workmanlike than flashy and boasts the likes of Andriy Shevchenko, Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, Serhiy Nazarenko, and Oleh Husyev. Shevchenko has served his nation well over his career, but at 35 he’s now getting on in age.
These two teams are as even as can be when it comes to games played against each other. They each have a win, loss and a draw in three matches with two goals for and two goals against. Sweden won their last meeting 1-0 in Ukraine this August. In their last five games overall up until Nov. 15th 2011, Ukraine has three wins, a draw and a loss and are unbeaten in the last four, which includes a 3-3 home Sweden has three wins and two losses in their past five and have lost their last two, which were to England and Denmark.
Bet on Ukraine vs Sweden
Ukraine and Sweden are pretty evenly matched and whoever takes advantage of their scoring opportunities will come out on top of this game. We’ll go for a close one goal win for the Swedes as a draw wouldn’t really be good for any of the two teams. In these cases, live betting can be a good option which is offered at William Hill.
For the moment, William Hill had the odds of a Ukraine win listed at 6/5 with a Sweden win at 2/1 and a draw at 2/1.
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