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Diego Llorente during a friendly match between Spain and Portugal
Photo: Jose Breton / imago images / NurPhoto
The three-time European football champions Spain and their European championship opening opponent Sweden are worried about a corona outbreak.
Less than a week before the direct duel at the start of Group E, both teams have already reported their second 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 due to meet in Seville on Monday (9:00 p.m.).
Spain had to go to the dress rehearsal with U21s
The test at Llorente was carried out on Tuesday morning. Spain actually wanted to do its dress rehearsal against Lithuania that day. But after the infection became known to Busquets on Sunday, a U21 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 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; others must be deleted from the original roster for them.
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.
Preparation already disturbed
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.
ngo / dpa