Sweden boss tips Ukraine for opening win

07 June 2012 10:16

Sweden coach Erik Hamren on Thursday said that their first Euro 2012 opponents Ukraine were favourites to win, given their home advantage.

"We've played Ukraine three times in the last few years and we've won one, lost one and drawn the other. There's not much between the two sides," he told a news conference in Kozin, some 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the capital, Kiev.

"But they've got the support of the home country. That's the reason why they're obviously favourites," for the Group D opener on Monday in Kiev, Hamren added, noting that few host countries of major championships lose their first match.

Source: AFP