Russia takes to the pitch to face Sweden in what is set to be an intense Euro 2016 qualifying. The two nations have met four times since the dissolving of the Soviet Union. Sweden has won two of those clashes, drawing one and losing the other. Sweden beat Russia, 3-1, in their meeting at the 1994 US World Cup. The most recent meeting took place in Euro 2008, where a Russia side inspired by Andrei Arshavin condemned Sweden to a 2-0 defeat and hence, elimination from the group stages.
Sweden are currently third in their group after a 1-1 draw against Austria on the first match day. Russia lead the group with three points following a 4-0 win over Liechtenstein, the team which most think will finish bottom in the group. Sweden's talisman might not be available for this important match. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is unfortunately injured currently. He missed PSG's victory against Barcelona, 3-2, in the UEFA Champions League. He will try to be fit for this one; however, even if he does make it to the pitch, he is unlikely to be at his peak.
The Swedes depend heavily on Ibrahimovic for goals. He is the nation's highest scorer, having scored no less than 50 goals for his country. Sweden will have to rely on the supporting cast to win this vital match for them. They recently dropped three places in the FIFA rankings; they currently sit at 32 in the list.
Russia is adjusting to life after a poor World Cup campaign. There is plenty of pressure on Fabio Capello to deliver what he was hired for. He needs his team to deliver not just good results but also good performances.
Who will win this important clash? Interested in learning more about Euro 2016 Qualifying? Check out our Euro 2016 Qualifying Page.
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