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Decisive duel in group D: Sweden and Russia will decide about the quarterfinals considering that both side have won Greece and lost to Spain.

The Vikings are in a better situation, since a draw would suit them because they have better goal margin. David Villa's strike saw Sweden lose to Spain in the very finish. They didn’t handle well losing but if you take a look at the standings it all comes down to the same thing.

Actually, even if they took a point they would have to at least remain unbeaten against Russia. After a great fight Guus Hiddink’s side beta Greece, used their chances and scored a winning goal. They seemed much more mature than against Spain, which can be an illusion since their rivals were much weaker.

Who knows, he will decide in the last moment; Russian squad have already done a lot, since they are the youngest team in the championship and experience is their biggest problem.

They shouldn’t repeat the mistakes form the duel against Spain where they played too offensive. Their rivals are experienced team with tough back line and the attack relies on Ibrahimovic and Henrik Larsson's precious experience.

Head-to-heads

These teams have met 23 times before with Sweden winning seven, Russia eight and eight matches ending in a draw.

Sweden have won two of the four competitive encounters, Russia one. Their last competitive meeting dates back 14 years to the 1994 World Cup. Sweden beat Russia 3-1 in the group stage. Henrik Larsson came on as a substitute in that match.

Their most recent clash was a friendly in 2002 that ended 1-1.

Team facts - Russia

Have not made it past the group phase at the last three European Championship finals at which they were present (1992, 1996, 2004).

Have the youngest squad at Euro 2008. Their average on the opening day was 26 years and 83 days.

With 476 combined international matches between them, the Russian squad is the least experienced at Euro 2008.

Have one of the most experienced coaches at this tournament. Guus Hiddink is present at his fifth major tournament (European Championship and World Cup). He has always successfully negotiated the group phase.

Team facts - Sweden

Their squad is the oldest at Euro 2008 at an average age of 29 years and 85 days.

Like his Russian counterpart, Swedish coach Lars Lagerback is present at his fifth major tournament (European Championship and World Cup). Under his guidance, Sweden have only failed to survive the group phase once at a major tournament (Euro 2000).

Lagerback takes charge of his tenth European Championship match as a coach, one short of the record set by Berti Vogts (1992-1996).

With a combined 1,090 international caps between them, the Swedish squad is also the most experienced team present at Euro 2008.

Player facts - Russia

Andrei Arshavin returns from a two match suspension after being sent off in Russia's final qualification match. Arshavin was the only Russian player to play in all twelve of his country's qualification matches. He scored three goals.

Dmitriy Torbinskiy and Ivan Saenko are one yellow card shy of a suspension.

Player facts - Sweden

Henrik Larsson is the oldest player for Sweden in European Championship history (36 years and 268 days on the day of the match against Spain). He is Sweden's joint top scorer in the competition with Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Both players have scored four times.

Larsson can become only the second player to score at six combined European Championship and World Cup tournaments, following Jurgen Klinsmann (Germany).

If selected, Mikael Nilsson will win his 50th international cap for Sweden. He made his debut against the Czech Republic in a friendly in 2002 (3-3).

Anders Svensson is one yellow card shy of a suspension.

• Russia need to beat Sweden to advance to the quarter-finals. Sweden will qualify with a draw.
  

Probable Line Up :

Russia : Akinfeev, Zhirkov, Kolodin, Ignashevitch, Anyukov, Bilyaletdinov, Semshov, Zyrianov, Semak, Arshavin, Pavluchenko

Subs : R. Adamov, V. Berezutskiy, V. Malafeev, D. Sychev, V. Bystrov, I. Saenko, A. Berezutskiy, V. Gabulov, D. Torbinskiy, R. Shirokov, Yanbaev, Ivanov

Manager: Guus Hiddink

Sweden : A. Isaksson, N. Alexandersso, O. Mellberg, P. Hansson, M. Nilsson, J. Elmander, D. Andersson, A. Svensson, F. Ljungberg, H. Larsson, Z. Ibrahimovic

Subs : M. Allbäck, K. Källström, R. Shaaban, M. Dorsin, S. Larsson, M. Rosenberg, D. Majstorovic, A. Granqvist, Wiland, Stoor,
T. Linderoth

Injured : C. Wilhelmsson

Manager: Lars Lagerback

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