FT: Sweden 4-2 England
Roy Hodgson tasted defeat for the first time in 2012 in normal circumstances, as England lost 4-2 to Sweden in the first match in the Friends Arena in Stockholm.
Two goals in three first half minutes from Danny Welbeck and international debutant Steven Caulker helped the Three Lions to a half-time lead and it was an advantage held for 40 minutes.
However, class told over young and fresh legs and three goals in the last 12 minutes from the technically gifted Zlatan Ibrahimovic (pictured) saw the PSG striker end up with four goals on the night and take headline act.
Encouraging first half
Ibrahimovic’s four goals saw him catapult past Henrik Larsson in the all-time list of Sweden goalscorers.
It was a much changed team from the England side that laboured to a 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw in Poland last month with only four starters from the match in Warsaw.
The game began in a very scrappy fashion, with neither side creating much and neat passing moves proving to be very difficult to create on a poor pitch surface.
The pitch was laid only five days before the match and this was evident as there were signs of cutting up from the early exchanges.
The first goal in the new stadium came in the 19th minute. Blackburn left back Martin Olsson robbed Raheem Sterling of possession and found Ibrahimovic on the edge of the penalty area.
His first effort was blocked by Caulker but fortunately for the talismanic ace, the ball rebounded to him and he smashed a shot into the roof of Joe Hart’s net.
England’s first main opportunity arrived six minutes later. Glen Johnson’s cross shot was diverted wide by Tom Cleverley when it looked easier for the Manchester United midfielder to score.
10 minutes before half-time, the visitors were on level terms. Ashley Young’s perfect cross from the left-hand side of the field was put in from close range by club colleague Welbeck.
The turnaround was completed a few minutes later. Celebrating his landmark 100th cap, Steven Gerrard whipped in a good delivery from a free-kick into the danger area and Caulker got a slightest of touches to divert the ball past Andreas Isaksson and notch a goal on his full international debut.
With confidence from their showing at the end of the first half, England began the second half on the front foot.
The Zlatan show
Isaksson was forced into a couple of smart saves to deny debutant Leon Osman and Gerrard.
England actually looked fully in control but once changes were made, the final quarter of an hour turned into a nightmare for Hodgson.
Out of nothing, Ibrahimovic drew the scoreline level at 2-2 when his crisp movement saw him spin away from Ryan Shawcross and he fired a fantastic volley past Hart.
Although the Manchester City stopper got something on the Swedish captain’s strike, the power on the venomous hit beat him.
It started a miserable 10 minutes for Hart, who will have to take responsibility for Ibrahimovic’s final two goals.
With seven minutes left to play, his free-kick was decent enough but went past Hart when he was covering the left-hand side of his goal. He will be annoyed to make another mistake after failing to deal with a Caulker header in the Premier League for City on Sunday.
As Hodgson’s side chased the game in stoppage time, we witnessed a moment of brilliance from Ibrahimovic to complete a breathtaking individual performance.
A dismal Hart header fell to the striker who showed fabulous athleticism and with his back to goal; he produced a delicious lob from 35 yards out that ended up in the back of the net.
It was Ibrahimovic’s night and quite possibly the best individual performance of his colourful career.
There were some positives for England but not many and it is a flat end to 2012. Hodgson’s 11 game unbeaten run has come to an end and 2013 starts with an easy fixture, it’s only Brazil at Wembley in February.
By Simon Wright – Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88
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