GOOD AFTERNOON
Welcome to Saint Petersburg for our live coverage of Sweden against Poland, one of the final round of Group E matches at Euro 2020.
While Spain and Slovakia slog it out in Seville for a place in the knockout stages, the Swedes can sit back – as has become their custom – knowing that their place in the Round of 16 is already secure.
A draw and a win without conceding has confirmed their progression, but another win here will ensure top spot and a game in Glasgow next Tuesday against one of the best third-place finishers.
Yet a success is far from certain, especially given the Blue and Yellow’s shortcomings up front; despite boasting one of the tournament’s standout attacking performers in Alexander Isak, Emil Forsberg’s late penalty against the Slovakians is all they have to show so far in the goals for column.
And this teatime, they face a Poland team for whom nothing more than three points will do.
Paulo Sousa’s team have given themselves hope after getting off the mark with a crucial point in Spain on Saturday.
Unsurprisingly, Robert Lewandowski was the man who rose to the big occasion – and over Aymeric Laporte at the back post – and the Poles will again be looking to their captain to fire them through to the next stage.
Grzegorz Krychowiak is back from suspension after his red card in the shock 2-1 defeat to Slovakia, but there are doubts over the Premier league pair of Jan Bednarek and Jakub Moder.
Meanwhile, Sweden’s Albin Ekdal missed training earlier this week, but is expected to overcome a minor issue to start his third game of these championships in midfield.
The official team news is up next, and then we’ll have all the build-up ahead of the 5pm kick-off in Russia.