Sevilla –
The battle in Group E is over Euro 2020. Qualifying as group winner is Sweden accompanied Spanish as runner-up.
Group E can also be said to be a hellish group because until the third matchday, Wednesday (23/6/2021) night WIB, no team has yet made sure to qualify. Even Spain as the favorite stuck in third position with two points.
Sweden instead topped the standings with four points followed by Slovakia, while Poland is at the bottom. Spain played life and death match at home, La Cartuja stadium, against Slovakia.
Meanwhile, Sweden face Poland at Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg. Spain, needing a win, had chances to take the lead in the 12th minute, but Alvaro Morata’s penalty missed.
The deadlock was broken only in the 30th minute through Martin Dubravka’s suicide before Aymeric Laporte magnified it in the 45th minute. Spain then raged in the second half with three additional goals, each from Pablo Sarabia, Ferran Torres, and an suicide by Jurac Kucka.
Spain won 5-0 while ensuring a ticket to the last 16 with the runner-up status of the group. Having five points, Spain lost by two points to Sweden, who won dramatic 3-2 over Poland to lock up the group winners position.
Sweden quickly lead 1-0 through Emil Forsberg’s goal in the second minute and doubled again by him in the 59th minute. Poland then equalized the score 2-2 through a pair of goals from Roberto Lewandowski in the 61st and 84th minutes.
The match looked set to end in a draw before Viktor Claesson sealed Sweden’s victory in the 93rd minute. Sweden as group winners will face one of the third-placed, Switzerland or Ukraine in the last 16, Tuesday (29/6/2021) early morning WIB at the National Arena, Bucharest.
Spanish meet tough opponents Croatia at Parken stadium, Copenhagen, Monday (28/6/2021) night WIB.
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Euro 2020 Group E final standings Photo: AP/Julio Munoz– |
(mrp/rin)
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