As impressive as it seems, almost 88 years have gone by since the first – and only – time these two sides came up against each other in a competitive match. Sweden had won that August 28, 1920 game by nine goals to nil (!) in the Antwerp summer Olympics men’s football tournament, as Herbert Karlsson stole the show with five goals. But arguably a lot has changed since then…

Past the group stage

There is however a similarity. Even though that historic encounter was a knock-out match, it sent the Swedes into the quarter-finals. And reaching the same round of this European Championship looks like their target again, a goal they share with defending champions Greece. Should one – or even both – of these teams make the last eight, then anything’s possible. Otto Rehhagel may assure you of that.

While perhaps half of the teams still in contention have a chance of actually clinching the Henri Delaunay trophy, one of the clear favourites to do it are Spain, also drawn in group D. And even though it all comes down to what you do on the pitch, both Greece and Sweden could be forgiven for believing that it will be the clashes between them as well as against Russia which will determine which of the three follow La Furia Roja to the next round.

No fluke

Greece caused the biggest upset in football history when they won the European Championship in Portugal four years ago, starting the final phase as 100 to 1 outsiders. However, no one can deny the fact they had won a qualifying group which also included the Ukraine and Spain, whom they also knocked out in the last 16 before famously beating the likes of France, the Czech Republic and Portugal, all three by a single goal, to claim the biggest prize in the European game.

They did fail to shine in the last Confederations Cup and were knocked out in the qualifying phase of the previous World Cup, finishing fourth in a group also including Ukraine, Turkey and Denmark. But that made German boss Rehhagel even more motivated. He extended his contract by another two years, until the end of the running World Cup and his revived side took the continent by storm once again in the run-up to Tuesday’s clash.

Despite being thrashed at home by fierce rivals Turkey 4-1, Greece won 10 of their other 11 qualifiers and drew 2-2 in Norway, Swiss referee Massimo Busacca, also in charge in Wals-Siezenheim on Tuesday night, leaving them with many complaints. They conjured up as many as 31 points out of a maximum 36, a number not even Poland or Portugal could match in 14 games.

Past and present

But what is perhaps more striking it the fact that Rehhagel’s troops did it thanks to a whole different recipe. Forget the 4-5-1 formation of 2004; the Greeks play 4-3-3 these days.

No, Rehhagel, the man credited with lifting Greece a stunning 60 places up to eighth in the FIFA world ranking, did not suddenly decide to change his ways at 69. It’s just that he has to work with a largely different set of players now. Compared to four years ago, mastermind Vasilis Tsiartas has hung up his boots, striker Demis Nikolaidis is now the president of AEK and Euro 2004 MVP Thodoris Zagorakis his PAOK counterpart. Forwards Yorgos Georgiadis and Zisis Vryzas recently withdrew too to take up new duties with the Thessaloniki club, while eight more of that legendary squad, including centre-back Mihalis Kapsis, are not around this time.

The remaining 10 are still here however and seven of them are poised to line-up on Tuesday, along with fresh faces such as Fanis Gekas of Bayer Leverkusen, the Eintracht Frankfurt duo of Sotiris Kyrgiakos and Yannis Amanatidis, as well as Vasilis Torosidis of Olympiakos Pirea.

Friendly woes

Neither team has looked particularly sharp in their latest warm-up games, but Greece may take heart by the fact that they were not beaten a single time by Sweden in the friendy matches which complete their all-time head-to-head record, all five of them in the past 27 years or so.

But Tuesday’s clash will be the real thing and Sweden will fancy their chances of ending that streak. Even though they’re only ranked 30th in the world, they have been there at the final phase of either the World Cup or the European Championship almost every time in the last two decades – they only missed out twice, in 1996 and ’98.

And they have certainly been a force to be reckoned with throughout their footballing history. World Cup beaten finalists on home soil in ’58, they also finished third in ’50 and ’94, whereas in the European Championship they were quarter-finalists last time out, 12 years after making home advantage count again, at least until the last four.

The 1948 gold Olympic medal could be considered as their biggest achievement to date, but Swedish fans and media are now hungry for more, putting pressure on Lasse Lagerbäck, their coach since 2000.

Ten years younger than his opposite number, Lagerbäck started a solo career at the helm after the previous European Championship, when Tommy Söderberg withdrew to take over at the U-21 national team. And despite criticism, he did well to see Sweden through to Austria and Switzerland behind… Spain, whom they play again on Saturday, but above rivals Denmark and surprise package Northern Ireland.

The Greek connection

While nine of Greece’s 23 are plying their trade abroad, Sweden’s squad only includes six home-based players. The rest have set off in pursue of an international career and in fact two of them are under contract with Greek clubs. Micke Nilsson has played for Panathinaikos for the past three years and Daniel Majstorović, a Swede of Serbian descent, only signed for AEK last month.

The world’s best paid footballer, Internazionale’s 12-million-euros-man Zlatan Ibrahimović, is no doubt the star of the team. But while at 26 he still has a lot to give and expect, his probable striking partner will be keen to add some European Championship glory to an illustrious career, which has seen him win almost everything else. After all, this is why 36-year-old Henrik Larsson decided to rejoin the national side.

FORM GUIDE

Greece

21/11/2007 (EC) Hungary 2-1 (A)

6/2/’08 (Fr.) Finland 2-1 (N)

26/3/’08 (Fr.) Portugal 2-1 (N)

19/5/’08 (Fr.) Cyprus 2-0 (H)

24/5/’08 (Fr.) Hungary 2-3 (A)

1/6/’08 (Fr.) Armenia 0-0 (N)

Sweden

13/1/’08 (Fr.) Costa Rica 1-0 (A)

19/1/’08 (Fr.) USA 0-2 (A)

6/2/’08 (Fr.) Turkey 0-0 (A)

26/3/’08 (Fr.) Brazil 0-1 (N)

26/5/’08 (Fr.) Slovenia 1-0 (H)

1/6/’08 (Fr.) Ukraine 0-1 (H)

TEAM NEWS

Greece

In contrast to several other teams still in the tournament, the defending champions are injury-free ahead of their last 16 opener on the outskirts of Salzburg. As many as 10,000 of their fans are expected to attend the Sweden game, which Yorgos Karagounis will start, despite not training for a few days due to a knee injury.

The Panathinaikos central midfielder is one of Rehhagel’s key players, alongside captain Angelos Basinas of Mallorca. However, the German coach is widely tipped to hand Benfica’s Kostas Katsouranis the task of switching from defensive midfield to Henrik Larsson’s man-marker, while Kyrgiakos, who - like Katsouranis – recorded his first ever cap against Sweden, will keep a close eye on Ibrahimović.

Right back Torosidis will play on the left, ahead of Nikos Spyropoulos, whereas 2004 hero Angelos Haristeas is expected to get the nod ahead of Dimitris Salpiggidis on the right of attack.

Possible line-up (4-3-3): Antonis Nikopolidis – Yourkas Seitaridis, Kyrgiakos, Traianos Dellas, Torosidis – Katsouranis, Basinas, Karagounis – Haristeas, Gekas, Amanatidis.

Sweden

Lagerbäck has revealed that he’s already chosen his starting XI, although it remains to be seen whether Ibrahimović will be included. The boss insists that he will, despite a knee problem.

Much like their opponents, Sweden are short on left-footed footballers, with the exception of Olympique Lyonnais’ Kim Källström, who may lose his place to Anders Svensson, scorer of the Swedes’ last goal against the Greeks in a 2003 friendly 2-1 home defeat. Torosidis and Amanatidis are right-footed, and so are Micke Nilsson and Swedish captain Freddie Ljungberg, who’s fit to play in a competitive match for the first time since April 26.

But unlike Greece, Lagerbäck will most probably stick to his favourite 4-4-2, especially given a wealth of options down the right flank. Henrik Larsson is expected to support Ibrahimović up front.

Possible line-up (4-4-2): Andreas Isaksson – Niclas Alexandersson (Fredrik Stoor), Olof Mellberg, Petter Hansson, Micke Nilsson – Tobias Linderoth (Källström), Anders Svensson, Sebastian Larsson, Freddie Ljungberg – Henke Larsson, Ibrahimović.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Greece – Sotiris Kyrgiakos

In 2004 it was the now absent Kapsis who partnered Dellas in the heart of a watertight defense. While the “Colossus” is still going strong, he’s now playing alongside Kyrgiakos, who’s transformed into one of Europe’s best central defenders while at Glasgow Rangers and Eintracht Frankfurt. Tall and commanding, he scored against Turkey and twice against Norway in the qualifying phase. His contract runs out at the end of the month and should he impress enough with Greece he will certainly move to a bigger club. What better chance to do it than against Ibrahimović?

Sweden – Zlatan Ibrahimović

With an annual salary of 12 million euros he’s the best-paid footballer on the planet and arguably one of the very best. Despite his exploits with the Milan giants (22 goals and 10 Serie A assists in a total of 33 appearances this season), he did not score a single goal for his country in the qualifying phase of this tournament, a stat which will no doubt give him some extra motivation against Greece. He could certainly prove to be one of the tournament’s biggest stars.

PREDICTION

The Swedes always seem to get there, but their last major breakthrough dates 14 years back, when they finished third in the World Cup. Strong defense, experienced squad, some great players building a career abroad, especially up front. Sounds a bit like Greece, doesn’t it? Despite their 2004 heroics, too few regard them even as dark horses. But count Rehhagel’s men out at your peril.

Greece – Sweden 2-1