Gothenburg to put on a show

Former Sweden striker Marcus Allbäck is predicting an exciting summer ahead after being chosen as the ambassador for host city Gothenburg at the UEFA European Under-21 Championship this June. Allbäck was born and bred in Sweden's second city and knows first-hand just how much of a footballing hotbed it is. "When I think of Gothenburg I think of football," he told uefa.com.

Excited
Gothenberg has a proud football tradition and has a number of clubs in the Allsvenskan, including IFK Göteborg, who twice won the UEFA Cup during the 1980s. Come June, though, it is the rising stars of the international game who will be taking centre stage. The 35-year-old Allbäck has many years of experience playing at the top level but, as his career winds down, he is excited about watching Europe's finest young talent in his hometown.

'Honour'
"Being asked to be the ambassador is an honour for me, since I'm a Gothenburger through and through," Allbäck said. Four matches during the tournament, including the first semi-final, will be played at the city's Gamla Ullevi stadium, which is Allbäck's new home ground after he rejoined boyhood club Örgryte IS for a third time last year. That came shortly after the former SC Heerenveen, Aston Villa FC and FC København forward retired from international football after almost ten years in the senior set-up with Sweden.

Bright future
Though Sweden, who have been drawn against five-time champions Italy, Serbia and Belarus in Group A, will not play any of their three group games in Gothenburg, Allbäck will be keeping a close eye on their progress. "We have a lot of guys who play for good teams, and we're really on a roll," he said. "A lot of them will take big steps. It's very exciting. I think we have a good chance to do well in the tournament."

'Unbelievably beautiful'
Allbäck insists those planning a trip to Gothenburg for the football in June should not leave without paying a few other places a visit. "Certainly the archipelago and the sea, especially at the time of year when the tournament is played, the month of June," he said. "Even July and August, that's when you should visit the coast. It's unbelievably beautiful." The UEFA European Under-21 Championship begins on Monday 15 June and concludes two weeks later with the final in Malmö. Gothenburg will play host to Spain's three group games, against Germany, England and Finland, as well as the first of the two semi-finals on Friday 26 June.