Match Summary

Sweden Team

England Team

Every now and again there is a performance in International football that is so outstanding that you have to take your hat off to it.  On this night in Stockholm it was Zlatan Ibrahimovic, so often a poor performer against England, who this time gave one of the best displays of his life.  He scored all four goals for his country, one of which will be remembered for as long as the game is played.  How appropriate that one of the best players to come out of Sweden should be the star of a match to open a brand new stadium in the country's capital.

To be fair England had a very weak side out, but having said that Roy Hodgson was able to blood several young players and give them the chance to make their debuts, and by and large they all did well.  Indeed for 70 minutes they held the upper hand, but the bane of 'Friendly Internationals', the substitutions, in the end cost England their unbeaten run.

The start of the game was a bit ragged but as the players settled it was England that looked the more assured outfit.  The pace of the game was high tempo and England's passing and movement looked good at times.  Leon Osman looked very comfortable in midfield and with Steven Gerrard and Tom Cleverley also working well, the midfield looked strong.  This was a very special night for Gerrard as the skipper made his 100th appearance for his country to join a select band who had reached that particular milestone.

After seven minutes it was Osman who had the first real shot, which was saved by Andreas Isaksson, and the goalkeeper then blocked Gary Cahill's deflection after Gerrard's fine free-kick should have been converted.  A minute later and Sweden had their first shot as Kim Kallstrom shot wide.  At this stage England were on top and a goal was needed to emphasise that.  On 19 minutes we got one, but it was at the other end.  Poor defensive play by England allowed Ibrahimovic to steal on to a left-wing cross.  Steven Caulker blocked the first shot but as the rebound fell kindly for the Swede he was able to toe-poke home past Joe Hart.  The goal had come against the run of play and earlier in the build-up it seemed that Raheem Sterling had been fouled, but the ref waved play on.

England picked themselves up well though, and continued to play good football.  Sterling, growing in confidence as the game went on, broke away and he, Danny Welbeck and Glen Johnson combined, before the latter's cross was missed by Cleverley when it seemed he must score.  A short spell of Swedish pressure produced a few shots at goal, none of which tested Hart, but a terrible mix up between Hart and Cahill almost gifted Mathias Ranegie a goal but the number 11 thankfully shot over.  That was a let-off for England but they then came storming back and on 35 minutes scored a deserved equaliser.  Osman intercepted a Swedish pass and sent Sterling away, the Liverpool winger then found Ashley Young with a superb through pass.  Young beat his marker and sent over an inviting cross that was swept home by the incoming Welbeck.  Two minutes later and the game was turned on its head.  Gerrard's superb free-kick found Caulker at the far post and he scored a fine goal on debut with a close range shot.  The defender then made a great block to stop Ibrahimovic and England held on to the lead until the break.

At half-time I noted that there were probably more goals to come and how right that proved to be.  But it was England who started the second-half the brightest and to be honest they were very unlucky not to add to their lead.  Leighton Baines sent in one great cross that both Welbeck and Osman almost converted, and then Gerrard saw a good shot blocked.  Isaksson turned an Osman shot around a post after a quick free-kick by Gerrard again, and then the skipper was only prevented from scoring on his 100th appearance by Isaksson's ungainly stop.  At this stage England were well on top, and Cleverley, Osman and Gerrard were dominating the midfield.

But always there was Ibrahimovic, and he was a constant threat and almost scored again after another mistake by Hart.  On 64 minutes the striker shot wide when he had more time and space than he realised, and that was a warning that England did not heed.  Hodgson brought on Daniel Sturridge and Jack Wilshere for Young and Cleverley, and Wilshere was soon setting up another shot for Gerrard.  Andreas Granqvist was the first player to be booked and not before time, as he had continually fouled the England players since the first whistle.  But then, on 75 minutes, came the turning point of the match.

Hodgson, trying hard to honour obvious promises to club managers took off Gerrard, Johnson and Caulker, with Ryan Shawcross, Tom Huddlestone and Carl Jenkinson coming on.  Shawcross and Jenkinson were making their debuts for England.  Within three minutes Sweden had equalised.  A long ball over the defence by Anders Svensson saw Ibrahimovic get the wrong side of Shawcross, who was still trying to find his feet.  The finish of the Swede was emphatic and the balance of the game suddenly shifted again.

England did still threaten, and with both defences being shaky throughout the night, more chances came and went, with Osman so nearly capping a terrific first international with another good shot which was saved.  On 84 minutes though the match finally swung decisively Sweden's way and it was that man Ibrahimović yet again.  The home team were awarded a free-kick at least 35 yards from goal and the big striker had only one thing on his mind.  His fierce low shot found the bottom corner of the net, with the wall and the goalkeeper found wanting, and the striker celebrating a hat-trick.  From a defensive point of view it was a poor goal, but it was Ibrahimović's night and the best was yet to come from him.

England pushed hard to try and find another equaliser, and in one good move Sturridge, Osman and Baines worked the ball down the left, with only the final pass ruining the chance.  It was almost the last attack by England and with one of the four extra minutes gone Ibrahimovic produced a moment of sheer magic.  A pass was lobbed forward and with the defenders hesitating Joe Hart decided to come out of his area to head clear.  Unfortunately he never found much purchase on his header and the ball looped up behind Ibrahimovic.  The striker didn't hesitate and launched into the most amazing overhead kick from around 25 yards out, to somehow steer the ball over everyone and into the net.  It was an incredible goal and a fitting finale to a very good game, and it certainly opened the stadium in style.

A final substitution saw Wilfried Zaha come on for his debut, replacing Sterling, and in the end there were quite a few positives for England.  However, there was no doubt that when the substitutions were made by Hodgson it had a dire effect, not only on England's play, but also the result too.  All credit to Baines, Osman, Cleverley, Welbeck, Caulker and Sterling though for excellent performances, and there was a nice little cameo from Wilshere in the closing stages.  And finally, many, many congratulations to Steven Gerrard, who not only reached that superb century of appearances, but was also England's best player on the night.
 

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