England eliminates Sweden from Euro 2012

16 Jun 2012, 9:29 am   -   Source: DPA
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(Getty)

(Getty)

England gave up an early lead but then stormed back to beat Sweden 3-2 on Danny Welbeck's spectacular goal, eliminating Sweden from Euro 2012.

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England gave up an early lead but then stormed back to beat Sweden 3-2 on Danny Welbeck's spectacular goal in a thrilling group D encounter, eliminating Sweden from Euro 2012.

Andy Carroll gave England the lead after 23 minutes but Sweden came back and pulled ahead on a goal by Olof Mellberg in the 49th minute and an own goal by England's Glen Johnson after 59 minutes.

But substitute Theo Walcott equalised for England in the 64th minute and Welbeck hit the winner in the 78th minute at Olympic Stadium in Kiev.

"I am happy with the finish and to get the three points but we are disappointed to let two goals in at the start of the second half. We stuck together and the team spirit showed," said Welbeck.

Walcott said he was a man on a mission when he came into the action.

"It is always nice to come off the bench and show what you can do," said Walcott.

"We are a family and it's great to win together. We wanted to pick it up after the first game and play a bit more offensively."

England jumped to four points in group D while Sweden were eliminated with zero points.

France top the group with four points while Ukraine have three points.

"We are really disappointed at the moment," said Sweden coach Erik Hamren.

"You have to accept that and be allowed to feel a little sorry for what you have not reached. I think it's going to be at least 24 hours before we think about the next game and start to concentrate on that."

The final group D matches have England facing Ukraine in Donetsk and Sweden playing France in Kiev on Tuesday.

England were playing their second match without the suspended striker Wayne Rooney but head coach Roy Hodgson said he planned to start Rooney in the side's upcoming game against Ukraine.

"It will be very difficult for me to leave a player like that from the team," Hodgson said.

"There are no easy pickings in this group. We need to see that we don't slip. That's why we want Rooney in, because he can take pressure off the defence and change a game off his own back."

Hodgson said he would be "happy" if England were to advance from Euro group D by a draw against Ukraine, in a match set to be played on June 19.

England started the match against Sweden well with two strong chances in the first quarter hour, as Scott Parker's shot was stopped by Swedish keeper Andreas Isaksson in the seventh minute and Welbeck's header went just wide in the 15th minute.

The English grabbed the lead in the 23rd with Steven Gerrard floating a ball over the Swedish defence to Carroll, who headed powerfully past Isaksson.

The Swedes equalised four minutes after the break as Zlatan Ibrahimovic sent a high pass to Mellberg, whose shot was slowed by England keeper Joe Hart and hit by English defender Johnson into his own net.

Sweden struck again to take the lead in the 59th minute on a set piece. Sebastian Larsson's free kick from the left side found Mellburg and the veteran's header bounced off the pitch and past a helpless Hart from six yards.

England found the immediate answer in the 64th minute as a clearance attempt went directly to Alcott, who unleashed a swerving long distance shot past Isaksson just three minutes after Alcott had entered the contest.

England regained the lead in the 78th minute with a magical goal by Welbeck, who back-heeled Walcott's pass from the right side while twisting and falling down with a defender draped on him.

The victory very well could have been 4-2 but Isaksson made a spectacular save on Gerrard's volley on a counter attack two minutes into injury time.

SBS will broadcast UEFA EURO 2012, including four LIVE finals.

 


 

Euro 2012 , Sweden , England Footbal

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