Russia 2-0 Sweden

Russia 2-0 Sweden: Rampant Russians storm into last eight for first time

DUTCHMAN Guus Hiddink is relishing a clash against the Netherlands after guiding Russia to the quarter-finals of Euro 2008 with victory over Sweden.

Roman Pavlyuchenko and Andrei Arshavin scored in the 2-0 win at Innsbruck's Stadion Tivoli Neu, setting up the last-eight clash for the weekend. Since starting to compete as Russia, in 1992, it is the first time they have made it out of the groupstages of a major
tournament.

"I know the way we play we get respect because we play with the concepts that football should be played, like Holland," said Hiddink, who was the Dutch national coach in the mid-1990s. "I don't know if they fear us, but they have five days more rest, which is an advantage. It's a special game because I know the players, the coach and more people within the squad I worked with.

"I'm very proud of my team and the progress they have made in the last few days. They play modern football."

The inclusion of Arshavin, suspended for the first two games, seemed to give Russia an injection of self-belief and they were unrecognisable from the side who laboured to victory over Greece and were thumped by Spain. His direct running and some confident, slick passing in and around the box had Sweden hanging on from the opening exchanges. Yuri Zhirkov sounded a warning when he drove a volley wide after 21 minutes and three minutes later Russia were ahead. A clever pass allowed Konstantin Zyryanov to escape down the right and he played the ball inside to Alexander Anyukov. The dangerous midfielder then rolled it into the path of Pavlyuchenko who cracked home a first-time shot.

The striker almost had another later in the half when he fired against the bar after another neat exchange. The Swedes issued a reminder of their own threat on the break as Henrik Larsson looped a header against the bar and Mikael Nilsson forced a sharp smothering save from Igor Akinfeyev at the end of the half.

It proved a key intervention as five minutes after the break Arshavin doubled the lead with another superb goal. An attack that began deep in their own half ended with Zhirkov setting up the playmaker to score with his outstretched right boot.

"Arshavin is a player who can decide very fast where he can create danger, he's a very smart player," Hiddink added. "There was a lack of match fitness, but that is the reason why I took him in the 23-man squad – he can make a difference."

Sweden had only needed a point themselves to make it out of Group D, but defeat will not necessarily mean the end for older players. Larsson, for one, said after the match that he plans to continue playing for Sweden.

"A new generation is coming through," said head coach Lars Lagerback. "We had a number of younger players in this squad, but it's about picking the best players regardless of their age."

Russia: Akinfeev, Aniukov, Ignashevich, Kolodin, Zhirkov, Semak, Zyryanov, Semshov, Bilyaletdinov (Saenko 66), Arshavin, Pavlyuchenko (Bystrov 90). Booked: Semak, Arshavin, Kolodin.

Sweden: Isaksson, Stoor, Mellberg, Hansson, Nilsson (Allback 79), Elmander, Andersson (Kallstrom 55), Svensson, Ljungberg, Henrik Larsson, Ibrahimovic. Booked: Isaksson, Elmander.

Sweden 1-2 Spain

David Villa's last-gasp strike helped Spain snatch a 2-1 victory over Sweden in their Euro 2008 Group D encounter.



The winner came from nothing as the Spanish defence sent a hopeful long ball upfield, only for Villa to sidestep the Swedish defence and calmly slot the ball past Andreas Isaksson.


Spain had taken the lead after 15 minutes when Fernando Torres latched onto David Silva's through ball to tap home his first goal of the tournament.


Sweden had a chance of an instant reply when Johan Elmander found himself one-on-one with Iker Casillas, but his right-footed effort found the side-netting.


But Sweden grabbed a deserved equaliser in the 34th minute when Fredrik Stoor's cross found Zlatan Ibrahimovic who sent the ball underneath a hesitant Casillas.


But Villa's late effort, coupled with Russia's win over Greece later on Saturday, means Spain are now certain of a place in the quarter-finals as they will progress as group winners.


Early threat


The in-form Spanish, now undefeated in 18 games, quickly settled into their passing game and were soon probing the Sweden defence for frailties.


However, apart from an Andres Iniesta shot that went high and wide and a moment of danger when David Silva got in behind the Sweden defence before being closed down, Lars Lagerback's side were able to deal with the early Spanish threat.


Sweden's success lasted just 15 minutes though before they found themselves a goal down thanks to a well-worked Spain corner.


Xavi played a low ball in towards the front post for David Villa, who in turn found Valencia club-mate Silva on the edge of the box and his cross back in towards the six-yard box was stabbed home by the stretching Torres.


It had been largely all Spain up until that point, but Sweden proved there were two teams in the contest as they almost fashioned an immediate equaliser to Torres' goal.


Veteran forward Henrik Larsson cleverly slipped Elmander through on the right of the area, but the Toulouse forward smashed his shot into the side-netting with only Casillas to beat.


Ibrahimovic, widely regarded as Sweden's chief threat, had been well-marshalled by the Spain backline but the Internazionale striker showed his class as he drew his side level 11 minutes before half-time.


The giant striker raced onto a deep cross from Fredrik Stoor, brought the ball under control and, just as it appeared as though the chance might be lost, he held off the challenge of Sergio Ramos before sliding a low shot past Casillas.


That was Ibrahimovic's second goal of the tournament following his superb effort against Greece and saw him move to within one of Spain striker Villa.


Like Ibrahimovic, Villa had also been fairly quiet, but the hat-trick hero against Russia brought a save out of Isaksson in the 37th minute with a 20-yard volley.


Injury setback


Sweden suffered a setback at half-time when Ibrahimovic, who had been an injury doubt leading up to the game due to a knee problem, failed to re-appear for the second half, with Markus Rosenberg taking his place.


Rosenberg had little opportunity to impress in the first 15 minutes of the second half though as the two teams cancelled each other out, and in a bid to shake things up Spain boss Aragones opted to make a double change on the hour-mark with Cesc Fabregas and Santi Cazorla sent into action.


Soon after their introduction Spain had a great chance to take the lead as the Sweden goal survived three near misses in quick succession.


First Silva's shot was parried by Isaksson, who then did well to bravely block the follow-up from Villa. The ball was still alive though and, with Isaksson out of position, Torres looked set to slot into an empty net only to see his effort deflected for a corner.


Spain were starting to get the upper hand and Isaksson was again called into action in the 67th minute, diving full-length to turn away Marcos Senna's 25-yard drive.


Sweden enjoyed a rare chance in 78th minute when a deep Anders Svensson free-kick cleared the Spain defence and found Petter Hansson at the far post, but the centre-back put his volley across the face of goal.


Spain piled forward in the closing stages in search of the winning goal, but when Isaksson saved Torres' low shot in the 89th minute it looked as though the Swedes would be taking a hard-earned point.


However, Villa had other ideas and he raced onto a Joan Capdevila long-ball forward, skipped inside Hansson before coolly slotting home past Isaksson for the winner.

Greece 0-2 Sweden

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.

Ibrahimovic scored his first goal for Sweden since 2005 with a stunning 25-yard strike after 67 minutes.

Petter Hansson scrambled home Sweden's second six minutes later to end Greece's dogged defensive resistance.

Hansson had almost given Greece the lead earlier, heading just wide of his own goal, but Sweden deserved the win.

Greece looked a shadow of the side that shocked Europe in Portugal four years ago and once Sweden took the lead, Otto Rehhagel's team never looked likely to salvage anything from a dour encounter.

Sweden are now in pole position to qualify along with Spain, while Greece face the prospect of having to beat Russia on Saturday to keep the crown they won in Lisbon's Stadium of Light in 2004.

Greece were the surprise winners in that tournament, with a style based on a fierce discipline and a strong rearguard, and they appeared intent on defending their title in similar fashion.

Angelos Charisteas, whose goal beat Portugal in the last final, was the main Greek danger in the first half and he tested Sweden keeper Andreas Isaksson with a powerful shot after a driving run in the sixth minute.

Inter Milan striker Ibrahimovic almost got the opener the game so desperately needed after 32 minutes.

He stole in on the end of Freddie Ljungberg's cross but could only direct his header on to the roof of the net, with Greece keeper Antonis Nikopolidis stranded.
Ibrahimovic scored his first goal for Sweden since 2005


Charisteas was in the action again three minutes before the interval but once more he shot straight at Isaksson, who then saved well from an awkward, dipping Angelos Basinas effort.

Greece introduced striker Georgios Samaras for Fanis Gekas after the break but the stalemate continued in a game crying out for a goal.

And it almost came in bizarre fashion after 65 minutes when Hansson glanced Traianos Dellas' cross only inches wide of his own goal.

The deadlock was broken two minutes later - courtesy of a goal that was totally out of keeping with what had gone before.

Ibrahimovic played in Henrik Larsson before taking the return pass in his stride and sending a magnificent rising drive past Nikopolidis from 25 yards.

It was his last action of the game but soon after Sweden increased their lead with a scrambled second after 73 minutes.

Nikopolidis saved well from Ljungberg as he raced in on goal but the loose ball sparked an outbreak of mass confusion in the Greek penalty area and Hansson bundled home to effectively seal the win.

Greece had been desperately short of attacking invention but Vassilis Torosidis almost threw them a lifeline with three minutes left, forcing Isaksson into a fine block at his near post.


Greece: Nikopolidis, Seitaridis, Kyrgiakos, Antzas, Dellas (Amanatidis 70), Torosidis, Charisteas, Basinas, Katsouranis, Karagounis, Gekas (Samaras 46).
Subs Not Used: Chalkias, Goumas, Vyntra, Spyropoulos, Patsatzoglou, Giannakopoulos, Tziolis, Salpigidis, Liberopoulos, Tzorvas.

Booked: Charisteas, Seitaridis, Torosidis.

Sweden: Isaksson, Alexandersson (Stoor 74), Mellberg, Hansson, Nilsson, Wilhelmsson (Rosenberg 78), Svensson, Ljungberg, Andersson, Ibrahimovic (Elmander 71), Henrik Larsson.
Subs Not Used: Shaaban, Dorsin, Majstorovic, Granqvist, Kallstrom, Sebastian Larsson, Linderoth, Allback, Wiland.

Goals: Ibrahimovic 67, Hansson 73.