Sweden step up finals preparations

Sweden coach Jörgen Lennartsson expressed his satisfaction after a successful training camp in La Manga, Spain this week. Though the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship hosts lost to Finland and drew with Spain in their two friendlies, Lennartsson, who works in tandem with Tommy Söderberg, was pleased with the progress the squad is making.

Competition for places
Sweden took 23 players to Spain, the same number they will select in their squad for the finals in June, but Lennartsson insisted that "an additional ten to 12 players still have a place" in the coaches' plans. That shortlist is likely to include Rasmus Elm and Marcus Berg who spent the past week with Sweden's senior squad. With the Swedish domestic season about to begin, Lennartsson stressed the importance of players finding their form between now and June to force their way into his final selection. "We have 12 rounds of Allsvenskan and two rounds of the Swedish Cup before the Under-21 finals," he said. "Performances during the spring will be vital in determining the selection of the final squad."

Finland win
Sweden held nine training sessions and played two matches, against two of the other finalists this summer, while in La Manga. Last Friday, their eastern neighbours Finland got the better of Sweden 1-0. "It was a tough, physical encounter," Lennartsson said. "Defensively we played very well, but we were not satisfied with how we attacked." Three days later Sweden took on Spain and drew 0-0. "That was a completely different type of match. We played a very good Spanish side. I would rate them among the two or three best teams in Europe. They made us work hard, particularly for the first 30 minutes."

Spanish test
Sweden survived the Spanish onslaught, thanks in part to a slice of good fortune as the hosts hit the woodwork three times. "I admit we had some luck, but the result was a confidence boost for the team," added Lennartsson. The stay in Spain gave Sweden a valuable opportunity to train in perfect conditions and to play two tough matches, but as Lennartsson explained, preparations went beyond just footballing matters. "We also had the time and opportunity to go through a lot of other things with the players. Like what to expect around the team in a tournament as big as the Under-21s. For example the demands from media and fans. Unless you're prepared it's easy to be distracted."