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Preview: Ukraine vs. Sweden

Preview: Ukraine vs. Sweden
© PA Photos
Sports Mole sizes up co-hosts Ukraine's Euro 2012 opener against Sweden in Kiev on Monday.

After Poland got Euro 2012 off to an entertaining a start on Friday, co-hosts Ukraine have their turn to take centre stage on Monday as they host Group D rivals Sweden at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev.

If that wasn't cause for celebration enough, then the home crowd will be in fervent mood as they see their side perform at a European Championship for the first time in their history.

Meanwhile, Sweden will be looking to ruin the party and get three points on the board against a team who many consider to be the weakest in the group.

Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin recently confirmed that his players have recovered from a severe bout of food poisoning, so doubtful duo Anatoliy Tymoshchuk and Andriy Voronin are expected to start.

Despite Johan Elmander getting over a foot injury in time to take part in training last week, Ola Toivonen could partner the enigmatic Zlatan Ibrahimovic up front for the Swedes.

Meanwhile, expect to see the highly-rated Rasmus Elm lighting up the midfield for Erik Hamren's side.

Current form:

Ukraine: DWWWLL
Sweden: LLWWWW

Possible lineups:

Ukraine: Pyatov; Husyev, Khacheridi, Mykhalik, Selin; Timoschchuk, Nazarenko, Konoplyanka, Yarmolenko; Shevchenko, Voronin

Sweden: Isaksson; Lustig, Melberg, Olsson, Granqvist; Elm, Svensson, Kallstrom, Larsson; Toivonen, Ibrahimovic

Sports Mole says: 1-1

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