[quote author=1B36333B295A0 link=1336403980/13#13 date=1337091407]Contrary to TalJechin I had no hopes for Sweden, even before learning about the Guidetti injury. Sweden has a rather weak team imo. The fact that we have players like Anders Svensson in the squad is a really bad sign.[/quote]

Well, without hope it's no use following football at all! :) Men jag vet att de inte är ett dugg bättre än de andra lagen... ;)

Imo Anders Svensson is still a useful midfielder, though after the tournament I'd expect him, Mellberg, Wilhelmsson and perhaps Isaksson too to retire from the national team.

No Guidetti = no Swedish gold chances, though there is a tiny chance he might replace Elmander who is also injured but hoped to be fixed in a month. 

Otherwise it's the expected names from those available to play. Though personally I would definitely replace Wilhelmsson with someone younger and playing in a better league than the Saudi Arabian...

Non Swedes will probably only recognise a couple of names:
[quote]
goalies:                            
  Andreas Isaksson                      
  Johan Wiland                          
  Pär Hansson                           
                                        
defence:                           
  Mikael Lustig                         
  Olof Mellberg                         
  Andreas Granqvist                     
  Martin Olsson                         
  Jonas Olsson                          
  Mikael Antonsson                      
  Behrang Safari                        
  
midfield:                          
  Rasmus Elm                            
  Sebastian Larsson                     
  Anders Svensson                       
  Kim Källström                         
  Pontus Wernbloom                      
  Samuel Holmén                         
  Emir Bajrami                          
  Christian Wilhelmsson                 
                                        
attack:                            
  Zlatan Ibrahimovic                    
  Johan Elmander                        
  Tobias Hysén                           
  Ola Toivonen                          
  Markus Rosenberg 
[/quote]

How does it look for the other teams, any reactions to the selections for Holland, Germany and so on?

Willempie wrote on 05/08/12 at 11:21:15:


Everything apart from the Kiwis must be easier for Italy. NZ was the only undefeated team of the WC2010.

Willempie wrote on 05/08/12 at 10:30:52:


Well, the goalie is usually the same until he gets old and retires voluntarily...
Over all, the attack and midfield is stronger than usual, but the defence relatively shaky or at least untested. If Guidetti gets well in time I think we have a real chance of winning - if not we'll probably get eliminated in the round after the group play.

Most teams seem to have defensive trouble this year, so it might be an event with many goals.
Just saw that Puyol has suffered a knee injury.


I'm mainly following Serie A, and neither "van Drummel" nor Sneijder have impressed. Seedorf is still good in most matches, but maybe he's too old for the Orranges?

TalJechin wrote on 05/08/12 at 09:38:06:


Italy is always good for two things in those big tournaments, dropping out early or the final. France, Netherlands, Spain should be able to beat Germany too. New dices roll in a tournament.

Willempie wrote on 05/08/12 at 07:42:53:


Well, you vote for the team you hope to win - as you with Netherlands. Without a Sneijder in form I doubt you have enough of a team - but okay, you still have a lot of good strikers to choose from.

Unfortunately, Guidetti seems to be sick and a couple of good defenders are injured - but even so, Sweden may have its best line-up for a EuroCh in decades.

A bit surprising that Italy has no votes yet - if any team knows how to beat the Germans it's them.

Gilchrist is a legend wrote on 05/07/12 at 15:45:55:


Only 15 answers are allowed, so I had to use at least one double option. Heaven knows why I used two, I just changed this.

Ireland or Croatia remain as double option. No offence meant againt these two countries, but I still don´t think lots os people vote for them. Everybody who does may clarify his vote in this thread.