Euro 2016 play-offs: Sweden seek to finish Denmark job

Lee Gormley | November 16, 2015

Denmark v Sweden

Sweden take lead into Denmark duel

Sweden will go into their Euro 2016 play-off second leg encounter with Denmark holding a 2-1 lead, after Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Emil Forsberg struck on home soil, but they will look to overturn previous misfortune, having lost three successive away meetings in Copenhagen.

PSG sharpshooter Ibrahimovic continued his rich vein of form in the two nations’ first leg match-up on Swedish soil, as he dispatched a second-half penalty, after Forsberg opened proceedings.

Nicolai Jorgensen pulled an away goal back for the Danes to give them hope for this returning clash, dampening Swedish spirits, but the visitors are 13/5 with Coral to prevail with another victory in 90 minutes.

Zlatan unfazed by Denmark away goal

Ibrahimovic has expectedly been his country’s leading light, starring heavily throughout qualifying so far, and he is just one more game away from guiding Sweden to the France finals next summer.

The Swedish striker is 4/1 to open proceedings in the second leg, and claims that Denmark’s away goal will not affect the play-off outcome.

“We won, but we were tired by the end. Now we have one match out of the way and we won, at home,” said Ibrahimovic.

“Their goal doesn’t mean anything.”

“It feels like we could have scored several more goals, but now the match is done. We won, and 2-1 is a good result.

“We left a strong effort behind and their goal doesn’t mean anything. Now we just have to focus fully ahead of the second match.”

Bendtner bullish ahead of second leg

Former Arsenal striker Nicolas Bendtner was pleased his side were able to grab an away goal to take back to their home patch, with the Wolfsburg hitman 7/4 to net anytime in his own backyard.

“We talked at half-time that we had to go out and do better for the second half,” said the Bundesliga marksman.

“So it is obviously negative, they got a penalty, but the positive is that we scored so we were in the game. In the periods where we played ball, we did well. But we did not do it enough.”

Denmark are 6/5 favourites to claim a home ruling over Sweden, but the away nation have called up defenders Alexander Milosevic and Filip Helander as they aim to protect a 2-1 play-off lead in what could be another dramatic meeting.

Slovenia v Ukraine

Ukraine hold solid Slovenia advantage

Ukraine secured their first ever competitive win over Euro 2016 play-off rivals Slovenia in their first leg meeting, thanks to goals from Andriy Yarmolenko and Yevhen Seleznyov, and Mykhaylo Fomenko’s visitors will aim to protect that dominant lead.

The Ukrainians were dominant throughout the first leg, eventually extending their impressive home unbeaten streak to 14 games at the Arena Lviv, with dangerous widemen Yevhen Konoplyanka and Yarmolenko performing strongly.

However, history will be on Slovenia’s side in their second leg encounter, having won the only ever previous match-up on home soil, and the hosts are 7/1 to overcome their daunting deficit and qualify for France.

Forward threats on both sides

Although, the travelling Swedes have enough firepower and a solid rear guard to maintain their lead on the road, making them 13/8 for a second successive victory this time out.

Despite trailing 2-0 going into their home affair, Slovenia can call upon the likes of Milivoje Novakovic and Josip Ilicic for attacking prowess. The latter Fiorentina star is 11/2 to dispatch anytime on home turf, while veteran international teammate Novakovic is 11/2 to net last.

Ukraine proved they can be a danger to any nation with their astute attacking ranks, including sought-after winger and first leg goal scoring hero Yarmolenko. The clinical wing wizard has long been tipped for a move to the Premier League, and he is 7/4 to net again anytime in normal time.

Srecko Katanec’s Slovenia face a truly tough test of overcoming their 2-0 deficit but are obviously boosted by home advantage, as they aim to make a remarkable recovery against an in-form Ukraine outfit.

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Coral’s top tip: Zlatan Ibrahimovic cant stopped scoring, as usual, so back him at a tasty 4/1 to score first for Sweden against Denmark in their second leg meeting.