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810 vs. Portugal

811

812 vs. Japan ~ 813 vs. Iceland

Wednesday, 31 March 2004
Svenska Fotbollförbundet Centenary Celebration Match

Sweden 1 England 0 [0-0]
 

 

Nya Ullevi Stadion, Heden, Göteborg
Attendance: 40,484; Kick-off: 8.47pm CEST, 7.47pm BST;
Live on Sky Sports (UK) - Commentator: Martin Tyler

Sweden - Zlatan Ibrahimović (six-yard tap in 54) Match Summary
Sweden Squad

England Squad
Results 2000-2005 Sweden - Erik Edman (39)
England - Phil Neville (49)

England kicked-off. 95 minutes (48 & 47).

 

Match Summary

 

Officials from Norway

Sweden

Type

England
Referee (black) - Tom Henning Øvrebø
37 (26 June 1966), Oslo, FIFA-listed since 1994.

Assistant Referees - Arild Sundet, 42 (6 March 1962), and Erik Røstad, 39 (14 July 1964).

Fourth official - Edvard Proner Varnamo, Sweden

  Goal Attempts  
  Attempts on Target  
  Hit Bar/Post  
  Corner Kicks Won  
  Offside Calls Against  
  Fouls Conceded  
  Possession  

Sweden Team

 

Rank:

FIFA (17th March 2004) =20th
EFO ranking Group 5

ELO rating 28th to 27th
Colours: Special Centenary Kit Made by Umbro - Gold collared jerseys with dark blue collar/cuffs and underarm side panels with royal blue trim, dark blue shorts with gold flash and royal blue hem, dark blue socks with gold tops and royal blue trim.
Capt: Johan Mjällby Manager: Tommy Söderberg, 55 (19 August 1948), and Lars Edvin Lagerback, 55 (16 July 1948), appointed joint-coaches in January 2000.
Sweden Lineup
1 Isaksson, Andreas, off 46th min.. 22 3 October 1981 G

Djurgårdens IF

17 0
2 Lučić, Teddy M.Š. 30 15 April 1973 RB Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Germany 58 0
3 Mellberg, E. Olof, off 46th min.. 26 3 September 1977 LB Aston Villa FC, England 41 1
4 Mjällby, K. Johan S. 33 9 February 1971 CD The Celtic FC, Scotland 45 4
5 Edman, Erik K. 25 11 November 1978 CD SC Heerenveen, Netherlands 18 0
Edman cautioned in the 39th minute for Unsporting Behaviour for a foul, following a cynical challenge on Steven Gerrard.
6 Nilsson, Mikael 25 24 June 1978 RM Halmstads BK 14 3
13 Andersson, Anders, off 46th min.. 30 15 March 1974 CM CF Os de Belenenses, Portugal 21 2
8 Svensson, Anders G., off 46th min.. 27 17 July 1976 CM Southampton FC, England 44 10
20 Wilhelmsson, Christian U. 24 8 December 1979 LM RSC Anderlecht, Belgium 5 0
10 Ibrahimović, Zlatan, off 90th min. 22 3 October 1981 F Amsterdamsche FC Ajax NV, Netherlands 20 6
15 Elmander, Johan E.C., off 46th min.. 22 27 May 1981 F Noad Advendo Combinatie Breda, Netherlands, on loan from Feyenoord Rotterdam, Netherlands 8 3
Sweden Substitutes
scoreline: Sweden 0 England 0
22 Kihlstedt, Magnus, on 46th min. for Isaakson 32 29 February 1972 G FC København, Denmark 13 0
11 Jonson, Mattias, on 46th min.  for Svensson 30 16 January 1974 M Brøndbyernes IF, Denmark 37 6
6 Linderoth, Tobias J.H., on 46th min. for Andersson 24 21 April 1979 M Everton FC, England 33 1
17 Kallström, Kim M., on 46th min. for Elmander 21 24 August 1982 M Stade Rennes FC, France 16 1
21 Hansson, Petter, on 46th min. for Mellberg 27 14 December 1976 D SC Heerenveen, Netherlands 3 0
scoreline: Sweden 1 England 0
19 Östlund, J. Alexander, on 90th min. for Ibrahimović 25 2  November 1978 D Hammarby IF 3 0
result: Sweden 1 England 0
unused substitutes: Christoffer Andersson, Mikael Dorsin, Pontus Farnerud and Magnus Hedman.
team notes: Tobias Linderoth's father, Anders, captained Sweden against England in June 1979.
 

4-4-2

Isakson (Kihistedt) -
Lucic, Mjällby
(Linderoth), Edman, Mellberg -
Nilsson, Svensson
(Jonson), Andersson (Kallström), Wilhelmsson -
Ibramhović
(Östlund), Elmander (Hansson).

Averages (Starting XI):

Age 26.0 Appearances/Goals 26.5 2.5

 

England Team

 

Rank:

FIFA (17th March 2004) 6th
EFO ranking Group 3

ELO rating 7th
Colours: The 2004 away uniform - Red crew-neck jerseys with red/white shoulder cross and blue hem, silver shorts with red trim and blue hem, red socks with white calf trim.
Capt: Steven Gerrard, first captaincy; Gareth Southgate, 60th minute. Head Coach: Sven-Gran Eriksson, 56 (5 February 1948), appointed 30 October 2000, took post 12 January 2001, 
36th match, W 19 - D 11 - L 6 - F 65 - A 34.
England Lineup
1 James, David B. 33 1 August 1970 G

Manchester City FC

23 16 ᵍᵃ
2 Carragher, James L.D. 26 28 January 1978 RB Liverpool FC 11 0
3 Neville, Philip J. 27 21 January 1977 LB Manchester United FC 46 0
Neville cautioned in the 49th minute for Unsporting Behaviour for a foul, after a clumsy challenge on Wilhelmsson.
4 Gerrard, Steven G., off 60th min. 23 30 May 1980 CM Liverpool FC 22 3
5 Terry, John G., off 46th min.. 23 7 December 1980 CD Chelsea FC 7 0
6 Woodgate, Jonathan S., off 46th min.. 24 22 January 1980 CD Newcastle United FC 5 0
7 Hargreaves, Owen L., off 60th min. 23 20 January 1981
born in Canada
RM FC Bayern München, Germany 17 0
8 Butt, Nicholas, off 78th min. 29 21 January 1975 CM Manchester United FC 33 0
9 Rooney, Wayne M., off 60th min. 18 24 October 1985 F Everton FC 11 3
10 Vassell, Darius C., injured off 12th min. 23 13 June 1980 F Aston Villa FC 16 4
11 Thompson, Alan, off 60th min. 30 22 December 1973 LM The Celtic FC, Scotland 1 0
England Substitutes
scoreline: Sweden 0 England 0
23 Defoe, Jermain C., on 12th min. for Vassell 21 7 October 1982 F Tottenham Hotspur FC 1 0
15 Gardner, Anthony, on 46th min. for Terry 23 10 September 1980 CD Tottenham Hotspur FC 1 0
16 Southgate, Gareth, on 46th min. for Woodgate 33 3 September 1970 CD Middlesbrough FC 57 2
scoreline: Sweden 1 England 0
17 Smith, Alan, on 60th min. for Thompson 23 28 October 1980 F Leeds United AFC 8 1
19 Cole, Joseph J., on 60th min. for Gerrard 22 8 November 1981 CM Chelsea FC 15 2
20 Heskey, Emile W.I., on for 60th min. for Rooney 26 11 January 1978 F Liverpool FC 40 5
21 Jenas, Jermaine A., on 60th min. for Hargreaves 21 18 February 1983 RM Newcastle United FC 6 0
18 Parker, Scott M., on 78th min. for Butt 23 13 October 1980 CM Chelsea FC 2 0
result: Sweden 1 England 0
unused substitutes: 12-Danny Mills, 13-Paul Robinson, 14-Robert Green, 22-Shaun Wright-Phillips, 24-JLloyd Samuel, 25-Ian Walker.
 
4-4-2 James -
Neville, Terry
(Gardner), Woodgate (Southgate), Carragher - 
Hargreaves
(Jenas), Gerrard (Cole), Butt (Parker), Thompson (Smith) -
Rooney
(Heskey), Vassell (Defoe)

Averages (Starting XI):

Age 25.4 Appearances/Goals 17.5 0.9

 

    Match Report  (Mike Payne's exclusive report coming shortly)

If Sven-Göran Eriksson was hoping a return to his native Sweden would provide some respite from the unflattering headlines of the past week, he was mistaken.  New contract or no new contract, Eriksson needs success on the pitch to safeguard his position and England suffered at the hands of Sweden yet again in Gothenburg.  Having now failed to beat the Swedes in 11 attempts since 1968, the England coach found no home comforts in the city where he first made his name as a manager.

While a largely second-string England side hit the woodwork twice, a second-half strike by Zlatan Ibrahimović condemned the visitors to another friendly defeat.  Eriksson had insisted just a few hours before this game that 'it is not life or death, that is in Portugal' and he is correct in sporting terms. 

There were at least some positive signs, albeit among his supporting cast, as Owen Hargreaves impressed on the right and Jermain Defoe was a livewire figure up front.  But in the final game before he must pick his provisional 23-man squad for the Euro 2004 finals, it was Sweden who dominated the entire second half and could easily have increased their lead.  Then again, this was the first time Eriksson had sent out a side missing David Beckham and Michael Owen, and it was hardly surprising the inspiration of his two leading lights was missed.  Indeed, with a whole host of regulars absent, this was very much a shadow side, with at most five first-choice players in the starting line-up.

That was hardly surprising in a friendly at this delicate stage of the domestic season and neither was the languid pace of the game.  Instead, what was astonishing was to see Olof Mellberg rushing headlong into a foul on - of all people - his Aston Villa team-mate Darius Vassell.  As a result, Vassell's first international start since facing Sweden at the 2002 World Cup lasted all of 11 minutes before he was replaced suffering from a twisted ankle. David O'Leary's thoughts were not hard to imagine.

On went Defoe for his senior debut and if the Tottenham striker lacks anything, it is certainly not confidence.  Within two minutes, he had tried his luck from long range and when the ball was turned goalwards at close range by Wayne Rooney, it struck the post and rebounded across the face of goal.  Although England were not dominating possession, they were at least creating the best chances at this stage.  Indeed, Hargreaves, who was wearing Beckham's number seven shirt, did a passable impersonation of the England captain as he struck a 25-yard free-kick against the crossbar on 26 minutes.

Sweden were restricted to rather less successful long-range efforts from Anders Svensson and Anders Andersson.  However, Hargreaves, in an industrious display, not only headed narrowly past his own post but also weaved inside at the right end and had a shot tipped around the upright.  England still lacked real width, with Alan Thompson failing to find any crossing opportunities.  However, the Celtic midfielder caused enough confusion in the Swedish defence to leave Rooney with another opening that was blocked just before the break.

The interval was the inevitable cue for further substitutions, with Gareth Southgate and Anthony Gardner replacing the largely effective duo of John Terry and fit-again Jonathan Woodgate.  Sweden, meanwhile, made five changes - one of whom, Everton's Tobias Linderoth - promptly passed the ball to Defoe, who charged towards goal, skipped inside and unleashed a drive that was tipped over.

The lively Tottenham striker then volleyed into the side netting from a tight angle, but England were soon behind amid hesitation in their makeshift defence.  Kim Kallstrom's cross was met by Ibrahimović, who scooped one of his long legs around the static figure of Phil Neville and clipped the ball past David James.  Eriksson's response was to introduce Emile Heskey up front, with Joe Cole, Jermaine Jenas and the unfortunate Alan Smith - out on the right flank - coming into the midfield with 30 minutes left. 

England were, however, restricted to hopeful long-range efforts from Cole, Heskey and Defoe as they laboured in search of an equaliser.  Instead, Kallstrom thundered a shot into the side netting, while Christian Wilhelmsson nutmegged Neville with embarrassing ease and was only denied by James' sprawling save.  Kallstrom's volley was also held by James and when Cole was finally handed the chance to equalise in the final minute, the Chelsea midfielder volleyed wide.  It was just that sort of night. Eriksson's real test will come this summer and England have always tended to raise their game for competitive fixtures. On this evidence, they will need to.

Source Notes

BBC Sport
TheFA.com
SkySports.com/football
Swedish FA
____________________

CG