{"id":1139612,"date":"2020-10-05T18:30:57","date_gmt":"2020-10-05T17:30:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1139612"},"modified":"2020-10-05T18:37:21","modified_gmt":"2020-10-05T17:37:21","slug":"euro-under-21-final-sweden-portugal-prague","status":"publish","type":"cult-corner","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/cult-corner\/euro-under-21-final-sweden-portugal-prague\/","title":{"rendered":"Where are they now? The teams from Sweden\u2019s historic U21 Euro final win against Portugal in 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spain<\/span>\u2019s international dominance came crashing down when they pitifully surrendered the 2014 World Cup to Germany<\/span>, but who would have thought Sweden<\/span> would be the nation to thwart their stranglehold on European U21 glory?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Well, that\u2019s exactly what happened in 2015. The Scandinavian nation had only previously reached a European Under-21 Championship final on one occasion, which came in 1992 with a side that featured the likes of ex-Everton<\/span> winger Niclas Alexandersson and former Man Utd<\/span> graduate Jonny Rodlund.<\/p>\n

Since that time the podium has been shared by the usual suspects, but five years ago Hakan Ericson\u2019s side bucked the trend to clinch Sweden U21\u2019s first and only major piece of silverware, beating a star-studded Portugal<\/span> team in the final that featured a number of household names and current world-class marvels.<\/p>\n

The balance has since been restored with international powerhouses Germany<\/span> and Spain<\/span> clinching the next two trophies, but the 2015 tournament in Czech Republic<\/span> remains a fairytale relic for those of a blue and yellow persuasion \u2013 and a reminder of football’s alluring unpredictability.<\/p>\n

Of the two nations in the final at the Eden Arena \u2013 which was won on penalties after a nerve-jangling 0-0 draw \u2013 it\u2019s safe to say Portugal<\/span>\u2019s fledgling phenoms have gone on to reach the more illustrious heights, but where can you find both sets of players who contested the final in Prague these days?<\/p>\n

Sweden<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Goalkeeper: Patrik Carlgren<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Current club: <\/strong>Randers FC<\/p>\n

Senior international caps: <\/strong>1<\/p>\n

Carlgren was instrumental throughout the tournament and played a decisive role in the sudden death shootout, saving two penalties to secure a 4-3 win for the Blagult<\/span>. The Falun-born goalkeeper was playing for Allsvenskan giants AIK at the time but now turns out for Danish Superliga side Randers FC.<\/span><\/p>\n

Right-back: Victor Lindelof<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Current club: <\/strong>Manchester United<\/p>\n

Senior international caps: <\/strong>34<\/p>\n

Lindelof was initially omitted from Ericson\u2019s squad but was drafted in late on, owing to an injury sustained by current Newcastle defender Emil Krafth. The decision, despite being borne out of necessity, proved inspired as the Man Utd<\/span> defender played every match of the tournament and helped his side keep a clean sheet in the final against a free-scoring Portugal<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Centre-back: Alexander Milosevic<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Current club: <\/strong>Vejle BK<\/p>\n

Senior international caps: <\/strong>7<\/p>\n

Then-Besiktas defender Milosevic faced the worst possible introduction to the tournament after he was sent off in the first game against Italy<\/span> with only 27 minutes on the clock. He returned after a one-game suspension and formed a key part of Sweden’s defensive backbone, though he hasn’t quite been able to replicate that tournament form at club level, leaving Nottingham Forest by mutual consent in October last after a brief stint in the Championship.<\/span> He joined Danish side Vejle BK in July.<\/p>\n

Centre-back: Filip Helander\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Current club: <\/strong>Rangers<\/p>\n

Senior international caps: <\/strong>12<\/p>\n

After an impressive showing at the tournament the towering Swede was snapped up from Malmo by Serie A side Hellas Verona. He would then move on to fellow Italian club Bologna and now struts his stuff in Glasgow for Steven Gerrard’s Rangers, helping them finish second in the league, although a foot injury ruled him out for the second-half of the season.<\/p>\n

Left-back: Ludwig Augustinsson<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Current club:\u00a0<\/strong>Werder Bremen<\/p>\n

Senior international caps: <\/strong>29<\/p>\n

Augustinsson received a lot of backlash in the English media after he branded the nation’s U21 squad ‘overrated’ prior to his side’s 1-0 defeat to Gareth Southgate<\/span>‘s Young Lions. Jesse Lingard was the scorer that day and the pair would meet again in the 2018 World Cup as both started in England<\/span>‘s 2-0 quarter-final win.<\/p>\n

Despite this, Augustinsson went on to have a stellar U21 tournament and was attracting plenty of his interest from Europe’s top clubs after the triumph in Prague. He currently plays for Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga, although last season his playing time was restricted by injury problems.<\/p>\n

Central midfield: Oscar Hiljemark<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Current club: <\/strong>AaB<\/p>\n

Senior international caps: <\/strong>27<\/p>\n

The skipper was an ever-present for the Swedes during the tournament, and proudly held the trophy aloft after seeing off Portugal<\/span>. After the tournament he earned a lucrative move away from PSV to Palermo and he subsequently went on to play for Dynamo Moscow and Genoa before joining Danish club AaB in the summer.<\/p>\n

Hiljemark is currently Sweden<\/span>‘s most capped player at U21 level (37 appearances).<\/p>\n

\n

2005: Lionel Messi
2008: Anderson
2010: Mario Balotelli
2015: Anthony Martial<\/p>\n

Not every Golden Boy reaches their full potential.<\/p>\n

— Squawka (@Squawka) April 13, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n