Sweden vs Nigeria
Date: Sunday, 7 August
Time: 11pm Nigerian time
Venue: Amazônia Arena
City: Manaus
Team Profile: Sweden
Olympic Record
After struggling in their first few Men’s Olympic Football Touraments, a Sven Rydell-inspired Swedish side saw their way to their first bronze medal in 1924 in Paris. The nation enjoyed their Olympic ‘golden age’ immediately after World War Two, picking up their only gold medal in 1948. It took an Englishman, George Raynor, to lead the Swedes to victory in his home country. Gunnar Nordahl, who would go on to become a legend at AC Milan, was the undoubted star of the tournament, scoring seven goals in his four games in London. The Swedes almost matched that triumph four years later in Finland, but the Nordahl-less side fell to the legendary Hungarian team of Ferenc Puskas before beating Germany in the bronze medal match. The Blagult’s most recent Olympic appearance saw them knocked out by Australia in the 1992 quarter-finals.
The Road to Rio:
Sweden surprised the continent, and the wider footballing world in mid-2015, by winning their first UEFA U-21 European Championship in the Czech Republic. They were expected to struggle in a tough group, which included five-time winners Italy, two-time champions England and 1994 runners-up Portugal, but Hakan Ericson’s side navigated their way through with a win against the Azzurri, a defeat against the Three Lions and a draw against the Seleção. Their second place in the group saw them reach Rio 2016 and set up a mouth-watering semi-final with Nordic neighbours Denmark. They dominated against the Danes, winning 4-1 to set up a showdown with Portugal. A tense final against Rui Jorge’s side ended goalless, with stopper Patrick Carlgren crowned the Swedish hero after saving William Carvalho’s crucial spot kick.
Former stars
Herbert Carlsson (1920), Sven Rydell (1924), Gunnar Nordahl (1948), Ingvar Rydell (1952), Jan Hellstrom (1988), Thomas Brolin (1992)
The stat
19 – Sweden conceded 19 goals in their first four Olympics Men’s Football Tournament matches before they managed a win, a comprehensive 9-0 victory against Greece in 1920.
PROFILE: NIGERIA
Olympic Record
Nigeria became the first African side to win the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament in 1996 with their fabled ‘Dream Team’. A side that included Celestine Babayaro, Taribo West, Nwankwo Kanu, Jay Jay Okocha and Sunday Oliseh defied the odds in Athens, Georgia thanks to dramatic late winners; Kanu grabbed a golden goal in their semi-final against Brazil while Emmanuel Amuneke fired the decisive strike in the 90th minute of the gold medal match against Argentina. The Albiceleste would have their revenge in 2008 though, with a Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria-inspired side consigning the latest incarnation of the ‘Dream Team’ to silver in their sixth, and most recent, Olympics appearance.
The Road to Rio
The 1996 winners entered qualification for the CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations at the final play-off stage, where they defeated Congo 2-1 over two legs, with Junior Ajayi grabbing both of the goals for ‘Dream Team VI’. In the tournament proper, they finished second in Group B on goal difference behind fellow Olympians Algeria, courtesy of an Ajayi-inspired victory against Mali and draws against Egypt and Les Verts. A single Etebo Oghenekaro strike saw off the finals hosts Senegal in the semi-final to book their tickets to Rio, and finished the tournament in style by defeating Algeria 2-1 in the final.
Former stars
Nwankwo Kanu, Jay Jay Okocha, Sunday Oliseh (1996), Victor Obinna, Peter Odemwingie and Victor Anichebe (2008).
The stat
10 – No African side has won more Men’s Olympic Football Tournament games than Nigeria. Despite Egypt also winning ten matches, they have done so in 32 attempts to the Super Eagles’ 25.
Olympic Record
After struggling in their first few Men’s Olympic Football Touraments, a Sven Rydell-inspired Swedish side saw their way to their first bronze medal in 1924 in Paris. The nation enjoyed their Olympic ‘golden age’ immediately after World War Two, picking up their only gold medal in 1948. It took an Englishman, George Raynor, to lead the Swedes to victory in his home country. Gunnar Nordahl, who would go on to become a legend at AC Milan, was the undoubted star of the tournament, scoring seven goals in his four games in London. The Swedes almost matched that triumph four years later in Finland, but the Nordahl-less side fell to the legendary Hungarian team of Ferenc Puskas before beating Germany in the bronze medal match. The Blagult’s most recent Olympic appearance saw them knocked out by Australia in the 1992 quarter-finals.
The Road to Rio:
Sweden surprised the continent, and the wider footballing world in mid-2015, by winning their first UEFA U-21 European Championship in the Czech Republic. They were expected to struggle in a tough group, which included five-time winners Italy, two-time champions England and 1994 runners-up Portugal, but Hakan Ericson’s side navigated their way through with a win against the Azzurri, a defeat against the Three Lions and a draw against the Seleção. Their second place in the group saw them reach Rio 2016 and set up a mouth-watering semi-final with Nordic neighbours Denmark. They dominated against the Danes, winning 4-1 to set up a showdown with Portugal. A tense final against Rui Jorge’s side ended goalless, with stopper Patrick Carlgren crowned the Swedish hero after saving William Carvalho’s crucial spot kick.
Former stars
Herbert Carlsson (1920), Sven Rydell (1924), Gunnar Nordahl (1948), Ingvar Rydell (1952), Jan Hellstrom (1988), Thomas Brolin (1992)
The stat
19 – Sweden conceded 19 goals in their first four Olympics Men’s Football Tournament matches before they managed a win, a comprehensive 9-0 victory against Greece in 1920.
PROFILE: NIGERIA
Olympic Record
Nigeria became the first African side to win the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament in 1996 with their fabled ‘Dream Team’. A side that included Celestine Babayaro, Taribo West, Nwankwo Kanu, Jay Jay Okocha and Sunday Oliseh defied the odds in Athens, Georgia thanks to dramatic late winners; Kanu grabbed a golden goal in their semi-final against Brazil while Emmanuel Amuneke fired the decisive strike in the 90th minute of the gold medal match against Argentina. The Albiceleste would have their revenge in 2008 though, with a Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria-inspired side consigning the latest incarnation of the ‘Dream Team’ to silver in their sixth, and most recent, Olympics appearance.
The Road to Rio
The 1996 winners entered qualification for the CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations at the final play-off stage, where they defeated Congo 2-1 over two legs, with Junior Ajayi grabbing both of the goals for ‘Dream Team VI’. In the tournament proper, they finished second in Group B on goal difference behind fellow Olympians Algeria, courtesy of an Ajayi-inspired victory against Mali and draws against Egypt and Les Verts. A single Etebo Oghenekaro strike saw off the finals hosts Senegal in the semi-final to book their tickets to Rio, and finished the tournament in style by defeating Algeria 2-1 in the final.
Former stars
Nwankwo Kanu, Jay Jay Okocha, Sunday Oliseh (1996), Victor Obinna, Peter Odemwingie and Victor Anichebe (2008).
The stat
10 – No African side has won more Men’s Olympic Football Tournament games than Nigeria. Despite Egypt also winning ten matches, they have done so in 32 attempts to the Super Eagles’ 25.
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