Why Sweden Can Upset the Odds and Beat Portugal in the Final of the U21 Euros
Against all odds, Sweden will play Portugal on Tuesday in the final of the U21 European Championships. In a clash that should undoubtedly entice the attention of neutrals and fans alike, Sweden will enter the game as underdogs for the match.
Against a Portugal side that put England and Germany to the sword on their way to the final with some mesmerising attacking football from some of Europe's brightest young talents, Sweden will go into this match with most bets stacked firmly against them.
That's not to say they don't stand a chance. Far from it. For even though Portugal are the comfortable favourites for Tuesday's game, there are a number of reasons why Sweden may just cause an almighty upset.
They're Exceptionally Hard to Break Down
The first thing that will strike people when they watch this Swedish side for the first time is the manner in which they are so well drilled in defending as a unit.
Although Hakan Ericson's side have always played as a simple 4-4-2 in each of their four games at this tournament, Sweden have really looked more like a more nontraditional 8-2, with two sets of defenders and two forwards chasing down the opposing defence.
It's this selfless hard work that has made them one of the most distinguished and solid-looking sides in a competition full of half-baked teams and tactics. Sweden may not be the most attractive or attacking team in this coming final, but they're probably the best prepared.
A Hard-Working Forward Line
As we briefly alluded to in the previous slide, the one caveat to Sweden's defensive midfield and uber-careful back-line is the two forwards that regularly do all the running and almost all the attacking for their side.
John Guidetti and Isaac Kiese Thelin have both come into this competition with very little enthusiasm or excitement buzzing around them, yet from the very first game, they have proven to be just as useful as any other forward line in the competition.
Guidetti in particular has established time and time again in this competition that he is a force to be reckoned with when put alongside defenders of any shape or size. Sweden may be a defensive team, but this striker has two goals and an assist in just four games this summer and is hoping to add to that tally against Portugal.
They've Taken Points off Portugal Before
One of the major plus points that Ericson will be hoping to build around ahead of this final is the simple fact that his team have came up against this formidable Portuguese side before and taken points off them.
Bernardo Silva & Co. may be the overwhelming favourites for the coming clash, but when Sweden faced them in the second game of their group, it was a match that suggested very little stood between these two sides.
That afternoon, Sweden frustrated Portugal to no end and made Rui Jorge's side look exceptionally average before stealing a late goal and a point for their troubles.
If Ericson's team can do that again on Tuesday, then we may well be in store for an even battle between these two sides.
They've Been Upsetting the Odds All Summer
Nobody really gave Sweden much of a chance at this summer's U21 European Championships. Sure, they had a handful of decent players, but in a group with Italy, England and Portugal, there was little chance of them picking up a win, let alone making it to the final.
But on the opening day, Ericson's side caused an almighty uproar when they came from behind to beat Italy 2-1. England may have then put them back in their place with a 1-0 win, but then came the draw with Portugal and then, of course, Saturday's triumphant win over the dark horses for the tournament, Denmark.
Whichever way one looks at Sweden's road to the final, there is one thing that remains abundantly clear: they thrive on being the underdogs each and every time, and in all but one game they've gone on to get exactly what they wanted.
Maybe that's something to consider ahead of the final.