How did they perform in UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying?
• Sweden qualified in second place in Group F behind Spain, completing the job on the last night of qualifying when they beat Latvia 2-1 and Northern Ireland lost in Spain.
• Lars Lagerbäck's side made a bright start, winning their opening four games – including a 2-0 success over section favourites Spain courtesy of goals from Johan Elmander and Marcus Allbäck.
• They then suffered a setback when beaten 2-1 by Northern Ireland in Belfast in March 2007, with two goals from David Healy cancelling out Elmander's opener.
• Sweden were awarded a 3-0 win against Denmark in their next game after the qualifier in Copenhagen was abandoned after a Danish spectator attacked the match referee, who had just awarded Sweden a late penalty with the scores level at 3-3.
• Sweden would have qualified with two games to spare only to draw 1-1 at home against Northern Ireland. The champagne remained on ice after they lost their penultimate qualifier 3-0 in Spain.
• The victory over Latvia on 21 November 2007 – Kim Källström getting the winner - ensured qualification for a fifth successive major finals tournament. "We did what we had to do and that's all that matters," said Zlatan Ibrahimović.
How did they perform in the 2006 FIFA World Cup?
• Sweden finished level on points with Croatia in the qualifying group stage, but their 24 points from ten matches proved enough to secure one of the two automatic spots on offer for the final tournament for the strongest runners-up.
• They enjoyed a perfect campaign with the exception of their two 1-0 defeats at the hands of Croatia. Their other eight matches ended in victories by a combined margin of 30 goals scored with two conceded.
• Sweden qualified for the knockout phase of the finals as runners-up in their group following games against Trinidad and Tobago (0-0), Paraguay (1-0) and England (2-2).
• Their tournament in Germany was ended in the first knockout round, however, with 2-0 defeat at the hands of the hosts.
How did they perform in UEFA EURO 2004™?
• Sweden advanced to the quarter-finals of the UEFA EURO 2004™ finals before exiting on penalties to the Netherlands after the sides remained locked in a scoreless stalemate after extra-time.
• The Swedes opened the final tournament group stage with a 5-0 thrashing of Bulgaria before securing draws against Italy (1-1) and Denmark (2-2) to book their place in the knockout stages alongside their Scandinavian neighbours.
• Qualification for the final tournament was assured before their last-game slip-up at home to Latvia who left Stockholm with a 1-0 victory. In their previous seven games, Sweden amassed five wins and two draws with 19 goals scored and only two conceded.
What is their best performance in the UEFA European Championship?
• As tournament hosts, Sweden advanced to the semi-finals of the 1992 UEFA European Championship, a competition that was the last to feature eight teams in the final round. The Swedes topped their group following victories against Denmark (1-0) and England (2-1) after opening the competition with a 1-1 draw against France at the Råsunda stadium. But Sweden found Germany too stern an opponent in the semis, making their exit following a 3-2 defeat.
Key facts
• By reaching UEFA EURO 2008™, Sweden qualified for their fifth successive major international tournament.
All-time record
• Up until the end of UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying Sweden had played 92 matches in the UEFA European Championship with 43 wins, 24 draws and 25 losses, 137 goals scored and 91 conceded.
• They did not participate in the 1960 UEFA European Championship.
• Sweden have recorded five 5-0 victories in the competition, but their highest winning margin came on 7 June 2003 when they defeated San Marino 6-0 in Serravalle with Mattias Jonson scoring a hat-trick.
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