Zlatan Ibrahimovic produced a moment of magic to put Sweden on the path to a crucial Euro 2008 victory against holders Greece in Group D.
Reigning European champions Greece slumped to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Sweden in Salzburg, as the defence of their title started in disappointing fashion.
Greece coach Otto Rehhagel still had a number of the heroes from four years ago in his starting line-up, while the Sweden attack was led by Henrik Larsson, who had come out of international retirement to feature.
The early minutes saw some bruising clashes in midfield, before Greece had the first shot on goal after seven minutes. Angelos Charisteas made a superb run down the right, beat a couple of defenders and fired a low left-foot shot straight at Andreas Isaksson from 15 yards.Anders Svensson belted a left-foot volley narrowly wide of target soon after, after a corner was only half-cleared, before the game slowed down and became mired in a midfield battle.
Just past the half-hour mark Larsson found space on the right and his cross was cleared by Traianos Dellas. When the ball was played back into the area, Zlatan Ibrahimovic nodded just over with a back-header as keeper Antonios Nikopolidis charged off his line.
Greece responded as half-time approached as Charisteas again found space down the inside right and fired a right-foot shot at Isaksson from just inside the area.Angelos Basinas then tried his luck from 35 yards and Isaksson had to get down to turn the ball away from his far post.
Early in the second half the ball drifted into the Greek area on the right and Nikopolidis wandered off his line, but Christian Wilhelmsson lifted his shot over the unguarded net.
The game then drifted for long periods, but midway through the second period Petter Hansson almost headed past his own keeper as he met Dellas' cross.Sweden then scored twice in five minutes to make sure of victory. First Ibrahimovic played a one-two with Larsson and thundered a 20-yard right-foot show across Nikopolidis from the right and into the top corner of the net.
Then Hansson bundled the ball home from close range to make it 2-0, after Freddie Ljungberg had a shot blocked and sub Johan Elmander lifted the loose ball high towards the Greek goal.Vassilios Torosidis almost grabbed a late consolation, but Isaksson make a solid block at his near post to ensure that Sweden kept a clean sheet and secured a well-deserved victory.
Greece coach Otto Rehhagel still had a number of the heroes from four years ago in his starting line-up, while the Sweden attack was led by Henrik Larsson, who had come out of international retirement to feature.
The early minutes saw some bruising clashes in midfield, before Greece had the first shot on goal after seven minutes. Angelos Charisteas made a superb run down the right, beat a couple of defenders and fired a low left-foot shot straight at Andreas Isaksson from 15 yards.Anders Svensson belted a left-foot volley narrowly wide of target soon after, after a corner was only half-cleared, before the game slowed down and became mired in a midfield battle.
Just past the half-hour mark Larsson found space on the right and his cross was cleared by Traianos Dellas. When the ball was played back into the area, Zlatan Ibrahimovic nodded just over with a back-header as keeper Antonios Nikopolidis charged off his line.
Greece responded as half-time approached as Charisteas again found space down the inside right and fired a right-foot shot at Isaksson from just inside the area.Angelos Basinas then tried his luck from 35 yards and Isaksson had to get down to turn the ball away from his far post.
Early in the second half the ball drifted into the Greek area on the right and Nikopolidis wandered off his line, but Christian Wilhelmsson lifted his shot over the unguarded net.
The game then drifted for long periods, but midway through the second period Petter Hansson almost headed past his own keeper as he met Dellas' cross.Sweden then scored twice in five minutes to make sure of victory. First Ibrahimovic played a one-two with Larsson and thundered a 20-yard right-foot show across Nikopolidis from the right and into the top corner of the net.
Then Hansson bundled the ball home from close range to make it 2-0, after Freddie Ljungberg had a shot blocked and sub Johan Elmander lifted the loose ball high towards the Greek goal.Vassilios Torosidis almost grabbed a late consolation, but Isaksson make a solid block at his near post to ensure that Sweden kept a clean sheet and secured a well-deserved victory.
Match highlights
Ibrahimovic puts the first goal
Hansson's goal
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