Janne Andersson’s team were not among the favorites of the tournament, but their performance in the group stage gave reason to take the Swedes more seriously. First place in a difficult group and not a single loss confirm these words. It all started with a goalless draw with the formidable Spaniards, in the match with which the Swedes showed good physical shape and played unmistakably on the defensive. In the second game against Slovakia, a goal by Emil Forsberg in the middle of the second half brought Sweden a 1’0 victory and additional three points. These four points were enough to advance to the playoffs, but in the third match a brace by the same Emil Forsberg and a goal in stoppage time by Viktor Klasson helped to snatch the victory from the Poles with a score of 3:2 and consolidated the Swedes’ leadership in the quartet.
The German national team went to Euro 2020 from the first place in the group, where they managed to bypass the Netherlands. The start of the selection for the 2022 World Cup for the Bundestim was successful, ending in victories over Iceland (3:0) and Romania (1:0). In the third match Joachim Lev’s wards unexpectedly stumbled in the game against North Macedonia (1:2). In the first match of the main football tournament in Europe, the “national eleven” opened the scoring. However, the Germans scored a goal in their own goal. This turn of events was decisive and brought the first defeat in the tournament (0:1). The second round brought a landslide victory over Portugal with a 4-2 hockey score. It was this success that became decisive for the “German car”. The duel with Hungary (2:2) ended unexpectedly, but this draw did not become fatal and brought the second place in the group. The best sniper of the team was Havertz, who scored two goals. Today Klostermann and Hofmann, who has a knee injury, will not be able to play.
