Slovakia takes on Sweden in St. Petersburg in the UEFA EURO 2020 Group E match, to be broadcast on Sky HD, this Friday, June 18 at 15:00 E.T., both teams are in high spirits after their impressive first matches. Slovakia would qualify for the Round of 16 with a win and would do so with one game to spare. They overcame Poland in the first match. Sweden had to withstand heavy pressure against Spain in Seville, but Olsen was outstanding and the speed of Alexander Isak showed his potential at the other end of the field in a match that ended goallessly. These teams also drew the last time they met in 2018 and it could be a tight match again. 

Let’s review 5 interesting facts before the meeting: 

1. Sweden and Slovakia have met five times, with the Swedes winning two matches and the other three (including the last two) ending in draws. 

2. The two sides last met in a 1-1 draw at the Friends Arena in Solna on October 16, 2018. Albert Rusnák scored for Slovakia six minutes from time after John Guidetti put the Swedes ahead in the 52nd minute. 

3. This is the third official match between the two teams, and the first since Marcus Allbäck scored a brace to give Sweden a 2-0 win in Solna in a 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier on June 2, 2001. 

4. Sweden also defeated Slovakia 6-0 in a friendly in Abu Dhabi on January 12, 2017, a match classified as an unofficial international match. Alexander Isak was among the scorers. 

5. The 2-0 win over France on Matchday 3 of UEFA EURO 2012 is Sweden’s only victory in nine EURO finals matches (two draws and six defeats). 

Let’s review the current performance of both teams ahead of this match: 

Sweden: “Tactical flexibility” was a quality of the team that coach Janne Andersson praised after the scoreless draw against Spain, a point earned after Luis Enrique’s side came under siege. Knowing they would rarely have the ball, Sweden retreated into a secure defensive unit. The tactical approach against Slovakia will be different and possession is likely to be more spread out. I expect the midfield to bring more creativity than on Monday and a player like Emil Forsberg to relieve some of Isak’s offensive burden.

Slovakia: The surprise win against Poland put the team in high spirits, but a repeat against an experienced opponent will be a tough challenge. Especially since Slovakia has never beaten Sweden. Štefan Tarkovič, whose first game in charge was a 1-1 friendly draw in Sweden as interim coach in October 2018, has the full squad and finds himself in a unique situation – Slovakia has never gone into their second EURO match having won their first.

Betting line: 

Sweden: 60.5% (-117) – Goals: 2.08 – Best O/U: u2½-172 

Slovakia: 19.7% (+359) – Goals: 0.85 – Best O/U: o2½+133 

Draw: 19.8% (+235) 

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