Euro 2020 Match 19: Spain Into Round of 16 at Expense of Sweden

The following article provides an oversight for matches and tournaments taking place in 2020.

Euro 2020 Match 19: Spain v Sweden

Spain Into Round of 16 at Expense of Sweden

June 20, 2020

Spain 3 Sweden 1

 

In the last match of Saturday June 2020, Spain defeated Sweden to progress to the Round of 16 with a game in hand.

 

Sweden made one change due to injury in central defence, bringing in Victor Lindelof.

 

Both having won 3-2 in their first matches, neither side wanted to give each other the three points.

 

The first ten minutes saw nothing until Spain attacked, resulting in Rodrigo winning the ball in the 18-yard box. He wheeled around, and with the Swedish defence in disarray, popped a shot out of reach of Robin Olsen and into the back of the net.

 

Marcus Berg should have followed suit, only his chip shot, after running onto the perfect through ball, did not fool Spaniard David de Gea. Robin Quaison then tried from long range, but de Gea easily collected the ball in his arms.

 

Spain looked the more likely to score in the end-to-end football that ensued, only for neither team to have any impact on the scoreboard. Sweden, meanwhile, kept trying the same tactic of through balls to Berg. The striker did have one decent attempt, thwarted by de Gea. Emil Forsberg then tried with his head off a cross from the left wing, only to miss the whole goal. Quaison also had a shot blocked.

 

Instead of following the game plan and scoring, Sweden gave away a penalty. Filip Helander pushed over Koke to possess the ball. Player of the Match Rodri Hernandez stepped up and smacked the underside of the crossbar before the ball crossed the line, gifting Spain their second goal.

 

Emil Forsberg needed to get a goal back for Sweden before the break, only his shot was wide of the mark. Instead, the midfielder set up Albin Ekdal, who nearly scored, was it not for the diving de Gea. Sebastian Larsson also won a free kick for the Swedes, only for Quaison to fire it straight at de Gea.

 

Instead, Quaison scored straight after the break when Spain could not clear the ball. He fired to the left of de Gea and brought his side back to a goal behind.

 

Rodrigo tried restoring Spain’s two-goal lead, but he rushed the shot and thus missed to the left of goal. Koke also missed to the left when he ran onto a choice through ball. Sergio Ramos had a header off a corner stopped by a jumping defender.

 

Instead, the two substitutes combined for Spain’s third goal, where Isco worked down the right wing before crossing to a running Iago Aspas, and the right winger made no mistake with his head.

 

Quaison, down the other end, sought his second as he shot with his left, only for de Gea to keep out the ball. The ball fell to Swedish substitute Emil Krafth, whose shot brought about a second save, this time with his hand. Quaison was then deemed offside from Krafth’s shot, though if not, that second goal would have come to fruition.

 

Instead, Spain won 3-1, sending them into the Round of 16.