The three-time European football champions Spain and their European championship opening opponent Sweden have a corona alarm.

Less than a week before the direct duel to start in Group E, both teams have already reported their second Corona case.

In Spain, after captain Sergio Busquets, Diego Llorente also tested positive for the virus, as the association announced on Wednesday night.

This means that team training is currently out of the question in the important preparatory phase.

And there is growing concern that other players may have become infected.

The Swedes announced on Tuesday evening that after Dejan Kulusevski from Juventus Turin, midfielder Mattias Svanberg from FC Bologna had also tested positive for Corona.

Both players were isolated according to the hygiene measures.

Spain and Sweden are to meet on Monday (9 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the European Football Championship, on ZDF and MagentaTV) in Seville.

The test at Llorente was carried out on Tuesday morning.

Spain actually wanted to do its dress rehearsal against Lithuania that day.

But after Busquets' infection became known on Sunday, a U-21 selection played against Lithuania instead and won 4-0.

"There can be more positive (findings), it is likely that that will happen," said association boss Luis Rubiales on the sidelines of the game.

UEFA regulations for corona cases

The news from the Spanish camp should also have startled the European Football Union. UEFA has already drawn up regulations for such cases. If there are one or more positive Corona findings, the game can be played as long as a team can muster 13 players, including a goalkeeper, whose tests were negative. For this purpose, players can also be appointed, for them others have to be deleted from the original roster. If a move is impossible, the UEFA Disciplinary Committee decides. The team that is responsible for the cancellation will be rated 0: 3 as a loser.

It's not that far yet. But with EM co-favorite Spain, the preparation is severely disrupted. Only individual training is currently on the agenda. Luis Enrique has since nominated goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, Rodrigo Moreno, Pablo Fornals, Carlos Soler, Brais Méndez and Raúl Albiol. These professionals train isolated from the team in their own so-called bubble and are ready to join the team.

In the case of the Swedes, both cases were determined on Tuesday.

Kulusevski tested positive after complaining of cold symptoms.

He therefore did not travel with the final preparation in Gothenburg, but stayed in Stockholm and is there in isolation in accordance with the hygiene measures.

After the opening training in Gothenburg it turned out that Svanberg is also positive.

He was then isolated in the team hotel.

In addition to Spain and Sweden, Poland and Slovakia also play in Group E.