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Euro 2020 Group E preview: Spain, Sweden, Poland, Slovakia - fixtures, squads, match schedule, predictions

Euro 2020 Group E preview: Spain, Sweden, Poland, Slovakia - fixtures, squads, match schedule, predictions

Group E offers a real battle at Euro 2020, and could turn into a really tight fight for the knockout stages.

Spain are undoubted favourites to take top spot, but one false move could let in the likes of Poland, Sweden and Slovakia.

Euro 2020 Group E preview

Spain

Euro 2020 fixtures: vs. Sweden in Seville, June 14; vs. Poland in Seville, June 19; vs. Slovakia in Seville, June 23

Qualifying: Group F winner

Euro 2016 result: Round of 16

Best result: Champion (1964, 2008, 2012)

FIFA ranking: Sixth

Coach: Luis Enrique (Spain)

Squad

 (AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)

Goalkeepers: David de Gea, Robert Sanchez, Unai Simon

Defenders: Aymeric Laporte, Jose Gaya, Jordi Alba, Pau Torres, Eric Garcia, Diego Llorente, Cesar Azpilicueta

Midfielders: Marcos Llorente, Sergio Busquets, Rodri, Pedri, Thiago, Koke, Fabian

Forwards: Dani Olmo, Mikel Oyarzabal, Gerard Moreno, Alvaro Morata, Ferran Torres, Adama Traore, Pablo Sarabia

Key player: Sergio Busquets — While Spain has moved on from most of its title-winning veterans, Busquets is still in the squad and still causing problems for opposing attacks. The Barcelona defensive midfielder will be accompanied by more dynamic players at this year's tournament, but he'll still serve as the anchor in front of the defense.

Sweden

Euro 2020 fixtures: vs. Spain in Seville, June 14; vs. Slovakia in St. Petersburg, June 18; vs. Poland in St. Petersburg, June 23

Qualifying: Group F runner-up

Euro 2016 result: Group stage

Best result: Semifinals (1992)

FIFA ranking: 18th

Coach: Janne Andersson (Sweden)

Squad

Goalkeepers: Karl-Johan Johnsson, Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Robin Olsen

Defenders: Emil Krafth, Victor Lindelof, Marcus Danielson, Martin Olsson, Ludwig Augustinsson, Pontus Jansson, Filip Helander, Mikael Lustig, Andreas Granqvist

Midfielders: Emil Forsberg, Ken Sema, Viktor Claesson, Dejan Kulusevski, Sebastian Larsson, Albin Ekdal, Kristoffer Olsson, Jens-Lys Cajuste, Mattias Svanberg, Gustav Svensson

Forwards: Marcus Berg, Alexander Isak, Robin Quaison, Jordan Larsson

Key player: Emil Forsberg — A creative midfielder with an attacking mindset, Forsberg helped Sweden reach the quarterfinals at the last World Cup. He was then part of the Leipzig team made it to the Champions League semifinals in 2020.

Poland

 (REUTERS)
(REUTERS)

Euro 2020 fixtures: vs. Slovakia in St. Petersburg, June 14; vs. Spain in Seville, June 19; vs. Sweden in St. Petersburg, June 23.

Qualifying: Group G winner

Euro 2016 result: Quarterfinals

Best result: Quarterfinals (2016)

FIFA ranking: 21st

Coach: Paulo Sousa (Portugal)

Squad

Goalkeepers: Lukasz Fabianski, Wojciech Szczesny, Lukasz Skorupski

Defenders: Jan Bednarek, Bartosz Bereszynski, Pawel Dawidowicz, Kamil Glik, Michal Helik, Tomasz Kedziora, Kamil Piatkowski, Tymoteusz Puchacz, Maciej Rybus

Midfielders: Przemysław Frankowski, Kamil Jozwiak, Mateusz Klich, Kacper Kozlowski, Grzegorz Krychowiak, Karol Linetty, Jakub Moder (Brighton), Przemyslaw Placheta, Piotr Zielinski

Forwards: Dawid Kownacki, Robert Lewandowski, Arkadiusz Milik, Karol Swiderski, Jakub Swierczok

Key player: Robert Lewandowski — The 32-year-old Lewandowski is already the country's leading scorer with 66 goals, and he just broke the Bundesliga's 49-year-old record for goals in a season with 41 in 29 appearances for Bayern Munich. If he is scoring at Euro 2020, Poland will be tough to beat.

Slovakia

Euro 2020 fixtures: vs. Poland in St. Petersburg, June 14; vs. Sweden in St. Petersburg, June 18; vs. Spain in Seville, June 23

Qualifying: Playoff Path B winner

Euro 2016 result: Round of 16

Best result: Round of 16 (2016)

FIFA ranking: 36th

Coach: Stefan Tarkovic (Slovakia)

Squad

Goalkeepers: Martin Dubravka, Marek Rodak, Dusan Kuciak

Defenders: Peter Pekarik, Lubomir Satka, Denis Vavro, Milan Skriniar, Tomas Hubocan, Jakub Holubek

Midfielders: Marek Hamsik, Stanislav Lobotka, Patrik Hrosovsky, Juraj Kucka, Ondrej Duda, Robert Mak, Vladimir Weiss, Laszlo Benes, Lukas Haraslin, Tomas Suslov, Matus Bero, Erik Jirka

Forwards: Michal Duris, Robert Bozenik, David Strelec

Key player: Marek Hamsik — Slovakia relies on Hamsik's creativity and vison. No one has played more games or scored more goals for the national team. The big question for Slovakia, however, is whether the 34-year-old attacking midfielder can still produce on the biggest stage.

Predictions

1st: Spain

2nd: Poland

3rd: Sweden

4th: Slovakia

Additional reporting by AP.

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