Spain v Sweden: Euro 2020 - live!
14-Jun-2021 18:30:21 | Guardian
Re: Marcos Llorente. Does anyone know why it’s being reported he is getting over his absence with Covid with a topless girlfriend?
It looks like he is playing as an overlapping full-back tonight.
Slovakia have the early whip hand in Group E.
Related: Milan Skriniar strike earns Slovakia Euro 2020 win over 10-man Poland
Aymeric Laporte is the headline selection for Spain, having switched nationalities, and become his new country’s senior centre-back.
Luis Enrique XI tonight has 8 players from their most recent WC qualifier v Kosovo - in comes Rodri for Busquets, Pau Torres was injured and Laporte was French.
Luis Enrique's first #EURO2020 Spain XI then. Unai Simón in goal. Laporte + Pau CBs. Alba over Gayà. PEDRI starts, no Fabián or Thiago in midfield. No Gerard Moreno, Dani Olmo starts on the left, Morata up top. pic.twitter.com/CeoyGKNZQE
For the Swedes, Marcus Danielson who will be in the centre of defence along with Victor Lindelöf, while Markus Berg is an experienced foil for Alexander Isak.
Here’s Sid’s scene-setter on the Spain team from Sunday.
Related: ‘Not ideal but no excuse’: Spain’s Luis Enrique looks beyond Covid chaos
Spain: Simon, Marcos Llorente, Laporte, Pau Torres, Jordi Alba, Koke, Rodri, Gonzalez, Ferran Torres, Morata, Olmo. Subs: de Gea, Azpilicueta, Diego Llorente, Gerard, Thiago, Garcia, Sanchez, Gaya, Fabian, Traore, Oyarzabal, Sarabia.
Sweden: Olsen, Lustig, Danielson, Lindelof, Augustinsson, Sebastian Larsson, Ekdal, Olsson, Forsberg, Berg, Isak. Subs: Granqvist, Bengtsson, Johnsson, Svensson, Helander, Sema, Krafth, Claesson, Jansson, Quaison, Nordfeldt, Jordan Larsson,
Cajuste.
Talking of Rodri, here’s a superb interview, as carried out by Sid Lowe.
Related: Spain’s Rodri: ‘I try to learn from Busquets but I have always been myself’ | Sid Lowe
Get the full lowdown on tonight’s teams from our Experts’ Network.
Related: Euro 2020 team guides part 19: Spain
Related: Rodri: the heir to Busquets now justifying the talent-spotters’ faith
Related: Euro 2020 team guides part 20: Sweden
Related: Kristoffer Olsson: a playmaker who breaks the Swedish mould in midfield
So then, Seville, a stand-in host for Bilbao, and where the new-look Spain will begin their assault on the trophy they won in both 2008 and 2012, with just one survivor from those golden days in Jordi Alba, the captain due to Sergio Busquets’ unfortunate absence with Covid-19. Busquets, if he comes back at all, will not be playing in this game. No Pepe Reina to cheerlead either. It’s been a rather confused buildup to this tournament, rather like 2018 when they lost their coach, Julen Lopetegui, to Real Madrid on the eve of the big kick-off.
The antidote to those types of shenanigans appears to be to omit everyone from Real Madrid altogether. No Don Sergio Ramos, though at present just one from Barcelona in Alba, and just two from Liga champions Atlético in Marcos Llorente and Koke, the experienced midfielder. This team has a more international look, with ten players from the Premier League and others playing in Serie A, France and in the Bundesliga.
Continue reading...Read More