sweden vs spain...
Sweden vs Spain: 1-2
(Ibrahimović 34'; Torres 15', Villa 90+3')
Sweden: Isaksson - Nilsson, Hansson, Mellberg, Stoor - Elmander (S. Larsson, 79'),
Svensson, Andersson, Ljungberg - H. Larsson (Källström, 86'), Ibrahimović (Rosenberg, 46')
Spain: Casillas - Ramos, Puyol (Albiol, 24'),
Marchena, Capdevila - Senna - Iniesta (Cazorla, 58'), Xavi (Fàbregas, 58'), Silva - Villa, Torres
Spain started well, kept Sweden at bay and made chances, for which they were finally rewarded in the 15th minute. Capdevila was lucky to get a corner out against Nilsson (I think it was), Xavi executed it short-range, reached David Silva, who sent a volley in Torres' direction. The striker was disturbed by Nilsson but still managed to score with something that vaguely resembled a karate kick against the ball. If he hadn't put in so much effort, he wouldn't have scored, and that's exactly what I appreciate about Fernando Torres. After that, Sweden couldn't hold back anymore and retorted with Elmander, who only hit the side netting, though.
I was a tad concerned when Puyol had to leave the pitch in the 24th minute due to a sole injury, because Albiol and the rest of the defense aren't that well attuned. Yet, it turned out I didn't have to worry about that. Albiol did a solid job, and replaced Puyol best as he could. The only thing I didn't quite like about the first half was that the defense preferred passing the ball to Xavi or Iniesta instead of sending it to the side where Capdevila was waiting, even when the winger was standing completely free and the middle was crowded with Swedish players. Fortunately, that changed in the second half - but first things first.
Ibrahimović proved that he's a world class striker when he scored in the 34th minute after a cross from the completely free Stoor. He first failed against Sergio Ramos, but the Madridista showed some rather bad defending afterwards when he simply let himself fall in front of Ibrahimović and allowed him to circle around him. His shot was deflected, so Casillas only reached it with his fingertips and in the end the ball rolled into the goal.
Sweden were lucky that Spain didn't get a penalty in the 45th minute. Inside the Swedish box, Elmander jumped right into the back of David Silva and prevented a header from him - probably the clearest penalty that has been denied in the Euro so far. Still, the draw at half-time was deserved for both teams. Spain did too little for the game after the early goal, mostly kept the ball in the back, whereas Sweden advanced and seized the game, for which they were rewarded with the equaliser.
In the second half, Spain managed to acquire astounding 63% of ball possession against a team that (at least in theory) aren't that much weaker than them at all. However, the Spanish circulated more and made more chances, whereas Sweden only reacted. Torres and Silva circled around four Swedes on occasion, and the Scandinavians were just lucky that there was always a fifth man to finally block the advancing Spaniards. They rarely left their own half, which made a Spanish breakthrough nigh impossible. During the last ten minutes, the Spaniards played to win and pushed forward, where, unfortunately for them, all their attacks were blocked by a concentrated Swedish defense. The Swedes reacted with a couple of halfhearted counter attacks, visibly content with a draw - until Villa attended to the completely deserved winner in the last minute of injury time. Capdevila sent a long pass forward, Villa dribbled around Hansson, and Isaksson was powerless as the ball went in underneath him. Afterwards, he ran towards the bench as if a tarantula had stung him, glomping a beaming Pepe Reina before they were both surrounded by a cluster of happy Spaniards. Even Iker Casillas couldn't be kept in his goal anymore and jumped right on top of the celebrating red bundle.
All in all, I found it incredibly remarkable how Spain remained patient and fought until the very end. The Swedes didn't allow them to shine, but the Furia Roja wasn't bothered or unsettled by that. They never lost their concentration, blindly followed their path and did their thing, and were rewarded for it late but not too late. It shows that Spain are versatile enough for a championship like this, and I appreciate that.
(Ibrahimović 34'; Torres 15', Villa 90+3')
Sweden: Isaksson - Nilsson, Hansson, Mellberg, Stoor - Elmander (S. Larsson, 79'),
Svensson, Andersson, Ljungberg - H. Larsson (Källström, 86'), Ibrahimović (Rosenberg, 46')
Spain: Casillas - Ramos, Puyol (Albiol, 24'),
Marchena, Capdevila - Senna - Iniesta (Cazorla, 58'), Xavi (Fàbregas, 58'), Silva - Villa, Torres
Spain started well, kept Sweden at bay and made chances, for which they were finally rewarded in the 15th minute. Capdevila was lucky to get a corner out against Nilsson (I think it was), Xavi executed it short-range, reached David Silva, who sent a volley in Torres' direction. The striker was disturbed by Nilsson but still managed to score with something that vaguely resembled a karate kick against the ball. If he hadn't put in so much effort, he wouldn't have scored, and that's exactly what I appreciate about Fernando Torres. After that, Sweden couldn't hold back anymore and retorted with Elmander, who only hit the side netting, though.
I was a tad concerned when Puyol had to leave the pitch in the 24th minute due to a sole injury, because Albiol and the rest of the defense aren't that well attuned. Yet, it turned out I didn't have to worry about that. Albiol did a solid job, and replaced Puyol best as he could. The only thing I didn't quite like about the first half was that the defense preferred passing the ball to Xavi or Iniesta instead of sending it to the side where Capdevila was waiting, even when the winger was standing completely free and the middle was crowded with Swedish players. Fortunately, that changed in the second half - but first things first.
Ibrahimović proved that he's a world class striker when he scored in the 34th minute after a cross from the completely free Stoor. He first failed against Sergio Ramos, but the Madridista showed some rather bad defending afterwards when he simply let himself fall in front of Ibrahimović and allowed him to circle around him. His shot was deflected, so Casillas only reached it with his fingertips and in the end the ball rolled into the goal.
Sweden were lucky that Spain didn't get a penalty in the 45th minute. Inside the Swedish box, Elmander jumped right into the back of David Silva and prevented a header from him - probably the clearest penalty that has been denied in the Euro so far. Still, the draw at half-time was deserved for both teams. Spain did too little for the game after the early goal, mostly kept the ball in the back, whereas Sweden advanced and seized the game, for which they were rewarded with the equaliser.
In the second half, Spain managed to acquire astounding 63% of ball possession against a team that (at least in theory) aren't that much weaker than them at all. However, the Spanish circulated more and made more chances, whereas Sweden only reacted. Torres and Silva circled around four Swedes on occasion, and the Scandinavians were just lucky that there was always a fifth man to finally block the advancing Spaniards. They rarely left their own half, which made a Spanish breakthrough nigh impossible. During the last ten minutes, the Spaniards played to win and pushed forward, where, unfortunately for them, all their attacks were blocked by a concentrated Swedish defense. The Swedes reacted with a couple of halfhearted counter attacks, visibly content with a draw - until Villa attended to the completely deserved winner in the last minute of injury time. Capdevila sent a long pass forward, Villa dribbled around Hansson, and Isaksson was powerless as the ball went in underneath him. Afterwards, he ran towards the bench as if a tarantula had stung him, glomping a beaming Pepe Reina before they were both surrounded by a cluster of happy Spaniards. Even Iker Casillas couldn't be kept in his goal anymore and jumped right on top of the celebrating red bundle.
All in all, I found it incredibly remarkable how Spain remained patient and fought until the very end. The Swedes didn't allow them to shine, but the Furia Roja wasn't bothered or unsettled by that. They never lost their concentration, blindly followed their path and did their thing, and were rewarded for it late but not too late. It shows that Spain are versatile enough for a championship like this, and I appreciate that.