Since winning Euro 2012, Spain hasn’t advanced past the round of 16 in a major international tournament and their status as a football superpower has diminished.
Captain Sergio Ramos is out of the lineup leaving the Euro 2020 roster without any players from the Euro 2008 champion squad that kicked off Spain’s dynastic run from 2008 to 2012.
It marks the beginning of a new La Roja, and although the new faces are less likely to dominate the world stage like their predecessors, they’re still among the tournament favourites and should have no issues winning Group E.
Poland, led by the unstoppable force Robert Lewandowski, and Sweden, a well-rounded group with a mix of youth and experience, expect to advance past the group, while underdog Slovakia hopes for an upset to reach the knockout stage for a second consecutive Euro campaign.
Here’s a closer look at all four teams in Group E:
SPAIN
Coach: Luis Enrique
Roster:
OFICIAL | ¡¡¡NUESTRA SELECCIÓN!!!
Estos son los 24 futbolistas que defenderán los colores de la @SeFutbol en la #EURO2020.
¡¡Vuestro grito de ánimo será nuestra energía en la lucha por el Campeonato de Europa!!#SomosEspaña #SomosFederación pic.twitter.com/KY87e0im3p
— Selección Española de Fútbol (@SeFutbol) May 24, 2021
Possible starting XI:
4-3-3 – (GK) de Gea – (D) Alba, Laporte, P. Torres, Llorente – (M) Koke, Rodri, Thiago – (F) Olmo, Morata, F. Torres
SCHEDULE
June 14, 3 p.m. ET: vs. Sweden
June 19, 3 p.m. ET: vs. Poland
June 23, 12 p.m. ET: vs. Slovakia
ODDS
To win group: -300
To win tournament: +800
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Most important player: Thiago Alcântara. It’s difficult to pick the single most important player for this squad as it genuinely acts as a collective. Still, Thiago provides poise and experience to a very youthful group. Often referred to as a “metronome,” much like Spanish legend Xavi, Thiago can dictate play with precise, flawless distribution – a crucial element to the possession-based La Roja style.
Breakout player to watch: Ferran Torres. The 21-year-old exploded onto the international stage when he scored three goals in Spain’s 6-0 Nations League defeat of Germany in November. Watch the Manchester City winger build on an impressive debut season and a hot start to his senior men’s national career (six goals in 10 appearances) at his first major international tournament.
Ferran Torres has scored 5 goals in his last 4 games for Spain
Kosovo@SeFutbol | @FerranTorres20 pic.twitter.com/bjwDG6eHsM
— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) April 9, 2021
Biggest strength: The midfield. Opposing teams will be lucky to touch the ball against a midfield three of Thiago, Koke and Rodri. In the last year, Thiago has a pass-completion rate of 89.5 per cent on 81.74 attempts and Rodri has a whopping rate of 92.1 per cent on 91.17 attempts. Spain also has an embarrassment of riches as Barcelona men Sergio Busquets and Pedri would be waiting on the bench in that scenario.
Biggest weakness: Inexperienced centre backs. Since Enrique excluded Sergio Ramos from the squad, Aymeric Laporte and Pau Torres are likely to start as centre backs. While both are quality players, Torres is 24 years old with only seven appearances for Spain, and Laporte is joining the team for the first time after spending his junior international career with France.
Burning question: What will be the fallout of Enrique’s decision to leave out Real Madrid players? Not only was Ramos excluded, so were Nacho, Marco Asensio, Lucas Vazquez and Isco. For the first time in Spain’s national team history, no players representing Real Madrid feature on the roster.
POLAND
Coach: Paulo Sousa
Roster: Click here to view full roster.
Possible starting XI:
4-2-3-1 – (GK) Szczęsny – (D) Rybus, Bednarek, Glik, Kędziora – (M) Linetty, Krychowiak – (AM) Jóźwiak, Klich, Szymański – (F) Lewandowski
SCHEDULE
June 14, 12 p.m. ET: vs. Slovakia
June 19, 3 p.m. ET: vs. Spain
June 23, 12 p.m. ET: vs. Sweden
ODDS
To win group: +600
To win tournament: +8000
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Most important player: Robert Lewandowski. Quite possibly the most dangerous man on earth, Lewandowski is coming off a season where he scored 41 Bundesliga goals to break Gerd Müller’s 49-year-old record for most in a season. He’ll be determined to have a better showing than at the 2018 World Cup – where he went scoreless in three matches – and see Poland through to the Euro knockout stages.
There it is! 41 GOALS
Robert Lewandowski has broken the record for most goals in a single @Bundesliga_EN season. pic.twitter.com/oUdQJ5zZQh
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 22, 2021
Breakout player to watch: Jakub Moder. The well-rounded midfielder has been a mainstay for Brighton & Hove Albion since January and made an impression on the Polish national team with two goals, including one versus England in March, through nine senior appearances. Moder won’t be a fixture in the crowded Polish midfield but expect him to participate as a sub throughout the tournament.
Biggest strength: Striker. This is really just another way of saying Lewandowski – the impact he can have can’t be understated. The team’s whole offensive game plan will revolve around providing him with as many scoring opportunities as they can. Forward Arkadiusz Milik also adds to Poland’s depth in the position.
Biggest weakness: Defence. Poland has two quality goalkeepers in the squad – Wojciech Szczęsny and Łukasz Fabiański – a world-class striker, and quality midfielders Karol Linetty, Grzegorz Krychowiak, Piotr Zieliński and Mateusz Klich. A back line anchored by 25-year-old Southampton centre-half Jan Bednarek and 33-year-old Kamil Glik of recently Serie A-relegated Benevento leaves much to be desired.
Burning question: Where does Lewandowski get help? If this tournament goes like 2018 and Lewandowski has trouble finding the score sheet, who steps up? After Milik, who may not even start, Glik is tied with Zielinski for third-highest Poland scorer on the roster with just six goals.
SWEDEN
Coach: Janne Andersson
Roster:
Här är de 26 spelare som representerar Sverige i sommarens EM! #viärsverige pic.twitter.com/aZgM769APK
— Svensk Fotboll (@svenskfotboll) May 18, 2021
Possible starting XI:
4-4-2 – (GK) Olsen – (D) Augustinsson, Danielsson, Lindelof, Krafth – (M) Forsberg, Ekdal, Olsson, Larsson – (F) Isak, Kulusevski
SCHEDULE
June 14, 3 p.m. ET: vs. Spain
June 18, 9 a.m. ET: vs. Slovakia
June 23, 12 p.m. ET: vs. Poland
ODDS
To win group: +600
To win tournament: +8000
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Most important player: Emil Forsberg. The 29-year-old has been a fixture at RB Leipzig for several years and helped the German club secure second place in the Bundesliga with seven goals and four assists this season. The attacking midfielder will be the key cog in Sweden’s offence thanks to his brilliant playmaking and ability to create chances.
Talk about a quick start to the 2nd half.
Emil Forsberg gets @RBLeipzig_EN on the board! pic.twitter.com/YmJQrYgAze
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 14, 2021
Breakout player to watch: Alexander Isak. Hoping to take advantage of those chances is the 21-year-old phenom Isak. The lanky striker with great technique scored 17 goals to lead Real Sociedad in his second La Liga campaign and help them achieve a fifth-place finish in the league.
Biggest strength: Pace and youthful exuberance. Along with Isak, skilled 21-year-old Juventus winger Dejan Kulusevski features as a top young talent on the roster, and there’s a good chance we’ll see them deployed together in the front two. Add pacey young striker Jordan Larsson as a possible candidate off the bench, and you’re looking at a very exciting Swedish squad heading into the Euro.
Biggest weakness: Lack of elite force. Sweden is a well-rounded group with talented players in all areas of the pitch, but lacks a performer who can truly alter a game – Isak or Kulusevski could get there, but not yet. That might be the difference between the Blue-Yellow and Poland – their main competition for second place in the group.
Burning question: No Zlatan, no party? The national team fared well without their long-time talisman at the 2018 World Cup by reaching the quarterfinal, but can the team continue to turn a page on the Ibrahimović-led era by rectifying a poor showing at the 2016 Euros?
SLOVAKIA
Coach: Štefan Tarkovič
Roster: Click here to view the full roster.
Possible starting XI:
4-1-4-1 – (GK) Dúbravka – (D) Hubočan, Škriniar, Šatka, Pekarík – (DM) Lobotka – (M) Mak, Hamšík, Kucka, Duda – (F) Ďuriš
SCHEDULE
June 14, 12 p.m. ET: vs. Poland
June 18, 9 a.m. ET: vs. Sweden
June 23, 12 p.m. ET: vs. Spain
ODDS
To win group: +1200
To win tournament: +25000
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Most important player: Milan Škriniar. The 26-year-old centre back played a pivotal role in securing Inter Milan’s first Serie A title since 2010 – he’ll need to have the same effect, and then some, for the Slovaks to have success. Watch for him to use his ball-playing ability to link up with Slovakia’s midfielders and provide a worthy challenge for Lewandowski on defence.
Breakout player to watch: David Strelec. The 20-year-old is unlikely to start but could be an interesting option for a Slovak team in need of scoring. He found the net seven times in 16 appearances for Slovan Bratislava of the Slovak Fortuna Liga and scored his first senior men’s goal after coming off the bench versus Malta in March.
Biggest strength: The midfield. All the pressure won’t be on Škriniar, as Slovakia boasts a solid midfield group that includes Marek Hamšík, Juraj Kucka, Stanislav Lobotka and Ondrej Duda. Celta Vigo’s Lobotka fills the role of holding midfielder, while the 33-year-old Hamšík, Slovakia’s all-time leading scorer, will be relied upon to create an attacking threat.
Biggest weakness: Striker. Slovakia lacks a proper No. 9, which gives the midfield a lack of options and puts added pressure on them to create goals. A 33-year-old Michal Ďuriš will likely start up top for Štefan Tarkovič’s side – he has seven goals in 54 games for Slovakia and failed to score in 2016.
Burning question: Can Slovakia repeat a magical 2016 showing and advance to the knockout round for a second time? The 2016 team defeated Russia and held England to a draw in the group stages before losing to Germany in the round of 16.
