Sweden win sees France slip into second in Group D, but still in quarter final

Sweden 2-0 France
Euro 2012
Group D
Kiev
Tuesday 19 June 2012

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Seb Larsson scored second-half goals to give Sweden a deserved win against favourites France, who finish second in Group D by virtue of this surprise defeat.

AC Milan striker Ibrahimovic struck nine minutes after half-time in a match which Sweden dominated from the start and Sunderland midfielder Larsson put the result beyond doubt with a late second goal.

France appeared to think they would have things their way without having to do too much, but they were very wrong as Sweden defied their critics having already been knocked out of the tournament by failing to win either of their first two games.

France will now face World and European champions Spain in the last eight while Sweden relegate hosts Ukraine to last place in Group D.

France were still very much in the match at half-time, but they were not having the easy game they might have expected against a Swedish team with no obvious motivation.

And Sweden should have been in front going into the break after a long ball baffled French centre-back Philippe Mexes and he let in Ola Toivonen, who rounded keeper Hugo Lloris only to hit a post with his shot.

Sweden confirmed their superiority at the start of the second half and took the lead in the 54th minute. Larsson sent in a cross from the right and Ibrahimovic scored with an acrobatic volley from 16 yards.

France had their best chance to equalise when substitute striker Olivier Giroud headed over unmarked from a corner with his first touch.

And his agony was compounded in the 90th minute when Sweden’s Christian Wilhelmsson hit the crossbar and Larsson struck the rebound into the roof of the net.

Sweden 01 Isaksson, 03 Mellberg, 04 Granqvist, 05 Mn Olsson, 13 Olsson, 07 Larsson, 08 Svensson (18 Holmen 78), 09 Kallstrom, 19 Bajrami (21 Wilhelmsson 46), 10 Ibrahimovic, 20 Toivonen (16 Wernbloom 78).

Substitutes: 12 Wiland, 23 Hansson, 02 Lustig, 15 Antonsson, 17 Safari, 06 Elm, 11 Elmander, 14 Hysen, 22 Rosenberg.

France 01 Lloris, 02 Debuchy, 04 Rami, 05 Mexes, 22 Clichy, 11 Nasri (14 Menez 77), 17 M'Vila (09 Giroud 83), 18 Diarra, 07 Ribery, 10 Benzema, 20 Ben Arfa (15 Malouda 59).

Substitutes: 16 Mandanda, 23 Carrasso, 03 Evra, 13 Reveillere, 21 Koscielny, 06 Cabaye, 08 Valbuena, 12 Matuidi, 19 Martin.

Ref: Pedro Proenca (Portugal)