You're reading: France aiming for top spot with win over Sweden

France has everything to gain by beating a Sweden team which is playing only for pride in their last European Championship group match on June 19.

The match represents the possible dawn of a new era for France
— which has not reached a tournament quarterfinal since the 2006 World
Cup — and the end of the road for some of Sweden’s veterans.

If France
manages to keep first place in Group D it will avoid a potential
encounter with defending champion Spain in the last eight, so long as
the improving Spaniards finish ahead of Group C rivals Croatia and
Italy.

“It would be great to avoid Spain in the next round,” France midfielder Yohan Cabaye said. “We’ll have to give everything against Sweden so that we win and stay in first place.”

France is brimming with confidence after its stylish 2-0 win over Ukraine,
with Cabaye scoring the second goal. A victory over Sweden would
consolidate its position as one of the tournament’s dangerous outsiders.

“We’ll be judged at the end of the Euro, but we’re happy to have found our form again,” France
left back Gael Clichy said. He’s wary of Sweden, which poses a threat
despite already being eliminated. “They have less pressure, I’d say.
Players always want to do well for their country.”

After two narrow defeats to Ukraine and England, the Sweden players are desperate to give their fans something to cheer about.

“We’ll
be playing for our honor. We want to take some points home with us,”
Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic said. “To motivate ourselves for the France game isn’t a problem. We have one more match do something good. France has to win, we’ll just go out and play.”

Although
the 30-year-old Ibrahimovic has confirmed that he will continue to play
for Sweden, the 34-year-old defender Olof Mellberg and 35-year-old
midfielder Anders Svensson are representing their country for the last
time in a tournament.

They have a combined 245 caps for Sweden, while 30-year-old goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson has 95 caps. The only France
player that even comes close is midfielder Florent Malouda, who has 78
caps. Winger Franck Ribery has 62, but nobody else in the French squad
has more than 50 caps.

Mellberg played every minute in his
previous five tournaments, and was the captain in three of them. He also
been ever present in this campaign, scoring against England, and coach
Erik Hamren will want to give him a fitting send off.

Hamren has
to give fringe players a game to test their ability ahead of World Cup
qualifying, but must still field a team competitive enough to take on
the French.

Regardless of the lineup, he does not expect his players to ease up — even if there is nothing at stake.

“If
you’re a winner, if you’re a really, really good player with an
attitude, then you find the motivation yourself,” Hamren said. “I don’t
think I’ll have to motivate them that much.”

France
midfielder Yann M’Vila hopes that Ibrahimovic — Italy’s Serie A top
scorer with 28 goals for AC Milan — is one of the players Hamren decides
to rest.

“Zlatan is one of the best players in the world,” M’Vila
said. “If he doesn’t play, that’s good for us, like when Wayne Rooney
didn’t play for England.”

France coach Laurent Blanc has yet to decide on his best team, but increasing competition for places has proved successful so far.

Winger Jeremy Menez scored France’s opening goal against Ukraine after replacing Malouda in the lineup, while Clichy impressed after taking Patrice Evra’s place at left back.

“We gave Gael his chance and he played well,” Blanc said. “It’s a question of choice, it depends how the opposition plays.”