- I think it feels interesting. It's a tough group with Spain and Poland as favorites, but it could have been worse. It feels good and we have good opportunities to fight for the first two places, says national team captain Andreas Granqvist to SVT Sport.
What Granqvist is referring to is that Sweden risked falling into Group F, which had been a nightmare plot. There lay Germany and France where the last team had been the winners of the qualifying teams Iceland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania.
- I was quite happy when I realized that we were leaving Germany and France's group (laughter). It felt good that we did not end up in their group.
The top two in each group, as well as the top four threes, advance to the eighth finals. Andreas Granqvist sees Spain as favorites to win the group.
- I think so, and then the remaining teams will fight for the remaining places. In the European qualifier, we showed, especially in the home game, that we can compete with Spain. Now they have home plans but we will do everything to take one of the places going forward.
In addition to Spain and Poland, the winner of Northern Ireland, Bosnia Herzegovina, Slovakia and Ireland will join Sweden in Group E.
If Ireland takes the final spot, they will, together with Spain, get home-field advantage when the European Championship is decided in 12 countries.
- I do not want Ireland to move on so that they also get home. Then I know the law too badly, but Northern Ireland and Slovakia feel perfectly okay to get in the group. Then it will be tough whichever team it becomes, says Andreas Granqvist.