Sweden Euro 2008 Sports Betting Preview

With Henrik Larsson back in the fold, can Sweden upset their Euro 2008 odds and go all the way?

Sweden will compete at their fifth consecutive international tournament when Euro 2008 kicks off in June. It’s an astonishing record of consistency in a notoriously volatile field of endeavour, and one of which most people are unaware. When you think of consistently achieving international teams you think of the super-powers like Germany and Italy – you do not think of a nation where most of their players play abroad.

Sweden will be extremely difficult to beat in Euro 2008, but they are unlikely winners as Sweden’s odds to win Euro 2008 will reflect. The Swedish success since 1998 is based on graft over craft, and the absence of that spark could check their progress as the tournament goes on. Their main attacking weapons are two long-time stalwarts – winger Freddie Ljungberg of West Ham and Inter Milan’s towering striker Zlatan Ibrahimović.

Ibrahimović ability to get goals, and the rest of the team’s ability to defend them, are the twin rocks upon which Sweden’s church is built. This is not a young team, but it has been through a lot together. While they might not win Euro 2008, the Swedes will certainly have a say in deciding who else does not. Sweden’s first game is against Champions Greece at Salzburg; the Greeks could not have asked for a more testing opener.