Euro 2008 Team Review: Sweden

Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates his stunning goal versus Greece

How did they do? After a decent start in Group D – a 2-0 victory over current European champions Greece – Sweden became a middling side once again, losing their remaining two matches to Spain and Russia and so failing to qualify for the last eight. However, they never look capable of troubling the elite in any major tournament so perhaps it was better for Euro 2008 that a hungry Russia side took on the irrepressible Dutch.

High Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s wonder goal against Greece. It broke the deadlock and handed Sweden the three points, but the goal’s importance was matched by its greatness. Ibrahimovic struck it from 20 yards out with the outside of his foot and watched it sizzle into the top left-hand corner – unstoppable and, at last, a demonstration of the temperamental forward’s true ability.

Best Goals Of Euro 2008… So Far

Low The meek performance against Russia cost them a place in the last eight when a draw would have been enough. Guus Hiddink’s side outwitted them as Sweden’s defence crumbled. It was disorganised and a well-tuned outfit like Russia were able to exploit that weakness.

Coach Lars Lagerback took sole control of Sweden after Euro 2004, but a feeble performance against Germany at the World Cup two years ago attracted criticism and the coach at one time stated he would leave after these Euros before retracting the comment. May yet still depart after a worse than expected campaign.

Key player Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Stunning goal against Greece won the game and after he went off injured against Spain having scored the equaliser, Sweden lost all momentum and subsequently the game. The key player in the team, but could not single-handedly pull them through.

What next? Henrik Larsson says he wants to keep playing through the qualifiers, but Sweden might be better off without him. Drawn with Denmark and Portugal in World Cup qualifying group, and only top team qualifies automatically so looking at a play-off with another second-placed side in order to make it to South Africa in 2010.

Match stats