Italy vs Sweden. European Championships Group E.
Stadium Municipal, ToulouseAttendance29,600.
Friday 17 June 2016 14:07, UK
Italy can seal their place in the knockout stages of Euro 2016 if they beat Sweden in their second Group E game in Toulouse on Friday.
The Azzurri put in a solid performance to see off group seeds Belgium on Monday, with Emanuele Giaccherini and Southampton striker Graziano Pelle scoring in the 2-0 victory.
Another three points against the Swedes this week would be job done at the group stages for Antonio Conte's men and the Chelsea manager-in-waiting is urging his side to achieve the "extraordinary".
"I think I've got a very intelligent group of players at my disposal. All of whom are aware we've achieved something significant, because we've put ourselves in a good position to go through the group stage," Conte told UEFA.com.
"They know we have to work and give 100 per cent, because if we're simply content to produce the ordinary, that's not good enough. We have to do something extraordinary to make people proud of us."
Sweden snatched a draw against the Republic of Ireland in their opening fixture, with a 71st minute own goal from Ciaran Clark seeing them take a point from the Stade de France.
The attention will once again be on their charismatic captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic - who is aiming to become the first player to score in four successive European Championships ahead of Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo - after a lacklusture display against the Irish.
But Sweden coach Erik Hamren has dismissed criticism of his star man, and is calling on the squad to put in maximum effort to keep in the hunt for the knockout rounds.
"To be a forward, you need support. Our attacking play wasn't very good. In the first 50 minutes our forwards didn't have much to work with," he said after the draw.
"As a team we got better after and they had some opportunities. He (Ibrahimovic) was involved in the goal we scored. We have to give 300 percent in the next games if we are going to go through."
Team news
Manchester United's Matteo Darmian was substituted on the hour mark against Belgium and was thought to be carrying an injury, so he could start on the bench.
Goalscorer Pelle has also been cleared to play after missing training on Tuesday with a foot injury picked up in Paris, but scans showed there was no damage.
If selected, the striker will play with his fingers strapped up after dislocating them.
Mikael Lustig is an injury concern for Sweden after picking up a groin injury against the Republic of Ireland and could sit out the contest in Toulouse.
The remainder of the squad are expected to be available, and there could well be changes as Hamren looks for his first win of Euro 2016.
Match stats
Italy are currently on a four game unbeaten run against Sweden (W3 D1). The Scandinavians' last victory dates back to June 1998, in a friendly (1-0).
However, Italy have gone six competitive matches against Sweden without keeping a clean sheet (W2 D1 L3).
Sweden have never scored more than once in their last eight matches versus Italy, a run dating back to 1984.
This will be the third time Italy have met Sweden in the European Championships; the Azzurri claiming victory in the 2000 edition (2-1) whilst the meeting four years later ended as a draw (1-1).
Seven of the last nine Italy goals against Sweden have come in the first-half.
Italy are unbeaten in their 11 competitive games under Conte (W8 D3). Their last defeat dates back to June 2014 against Uruguay.
Italy have never scored more than two goals in their 34 games at the European Championships.
The only previous time Italy won their first two Euro games was in 2000, when they eventually reached the final.
Sweden have only won three of their last 15 games at the European Championships (D5 L7).
Sweden scored despite not having a single shot on target in their opening game against Republic of Ireland.
Ibrahimovic is the last Swedish player to score against Italy, back in June 2004 at the Euros (1-1). None of his four shots against the Republic of Ireland were on target.
Merson's prediction
Italy have been the best team I've seen in the tournament so far. They were outstanding against Belgium. When you look at their defence they are ruthless. They are quick on the counter-attack and Pelle has got that presence up front. I was very impressed with them. On the other hand, Sweden were terrible and I can only see an Italy victory in Toulouse.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet's odds: 6/1)
Betting
Italy are Sky Bet's 4/5 favourites for the victory with Sweden given a 4/1 chance while the draw priced at 23/10. Pelle heads the first goalscorer betting at 4/1 followed by Ibrahimovic, with the strike duo enhanced from 7/1 to 9/1 to both find the net in Sky Bet's Price Boosts. Italy were cut from 18/1 to 10/1 to win Euro 2016 following their impressive win over Belgium, while Sweden are odds-against at 11/10 just to make the knockout stages. The Soccer Saturday pundits and Jamie Redknapp have provided Sky Bet with their predictions, including Matt Le Tissier's 25/1 fancy for Pelle to score first in a 2-1 Italy win.
