FOOTBALL Live

Tuesday June 10, 2008 Finished Stadion Salzburg

Logo 0 - Logo 2

Greece

Sweden

  • Ibrahimovic 66’
  • Hansson 72’
  1. Sweden down sorry Greece

    Sweden down sorry Greece

    A stunning goal from Zlatan Ibrahimovic set Sweden on their way to a 2-0 victory over defending champions Greece in their Euro 2008 Group D opening game at the Wals-Siezenheim Stadium in Salzburg. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Greece
    • Sweden
    • 90+3' The final whistle goes, not before time, and Greece kick off their European Championship defence with a defeat. Thank-you for your company. Sorry it wasn't more exciting.
    • 90+1' Amanatidis's cross from the Greek right is fielded by Isaksson.
    • 90' There will be three minutes of stoppage time. Good God, make it end!
    • 87' Torosidis latches onto a loose pass before breaking into the Swedish box and drawing a save from Isaksson with a shot from a narrow angle on the left.
    • 85' Five minutes remain, and there is unsurprisingly no sign of a Greek comeback. It's probably unfair to be so cynical about their style of play, but it does make for pretty grim viewing.
    • 82' Larsson drives the free-kick well wide of the right-hand post.
    • 81' Rosenborg wins a free-kick off Antzas after being fouled right on the edge of the Greece penalty area.
    • 78' Wilhelmsson is replaced by Werder Bremen striker Markus Rosenborg.
    • 77' Greece, it must be said, have not played like champions. One suspects their 2004 tactics are unlikely to prove quite so successful this time around. Meanwhile, Wilhelmsson is led away from the field of play by the Swedish physios. His tournament appears to be over.
    • 75' Wilhelmsson goes down on the Swedish right clutching the back of his leg, and it looks like his hamstring has gone. He's flat on his back receiving treatment, but it doesn't look good.
    • 74' Another change for Sweden. Niclas Alexandersson is replaced by Fredrik Stoor.
    • 72' GOAL! 2-0 Sweden! Ljungberg's shot is saved, Elmander pokes the ball up into the air and Hansson somehow scrambles the ball home off his left knee at the back post! That was as scrappy as the first goal was sublime.
    • 71' And now a change for Sweden, with Toulouse striker Johan Elmander replacing the goalscorer Ibrahimovic.
    • 70' Greece respond with a change, as Ioannis Amanatidis comes on for Traianos Dellas.
    • 69' Samaras cuts into the Swedish box from the left but lets the ball get away from him and Sweden clear.
    • 68' So, how will the champions react now?
    • 67' GOAL! 1-0 Sweden! An absolute belter from Ibrahimovic! He exchanges passes with Larsson on the right-hand corner of the penalty area before rifling an unstoppable drive into the top-left corner! Great goal, and just what the game needed.
    • 66' Greece go close! Dellas's right-wing cross is headed backwards by Hansson and goes wide of the left-hand post by inches with Isaksson beaten! Almost a superb own goal.
    • 65' This game, it has to be said, is D.I.R.E. dire.
    • 64' Wilhelmsson weaves into the Greek box from the left and skips past a challenge before being dispossessed. Nilsson follows up with a speculative 35-yarder that swerves well wide of the right-hand upright.
    • 62' Opportunity for Greece! Karagounis seizes on a loose pass from Mellberg in midfield, has an attempted lob blocked and then sees a second effort deflected back to Isaksson.
    • 61' Greece win a free-kick wide on the left, but Karagounis's inswinger is well held by Isaksson. Sweden then break down their left, and Torosidis is booked for a foul on Wilhelmsson.
    • 60' The jeers rain down from the stands again as Greece indulge in another spot of keep-ball at the back.
    • 58' Katsouranis catches Ljungberg with a rather nasty challenge, but avoids a yellow card.
    • 57' Ljungberg's dinked pass towards Nilsson, who's running into the Greek box from the left, is headed back to Nikopolidis by Charisteas.
    • 56' Ljungberg's square pass on the edge of the Greece area is snaffled up by Basinas.
    • 55' Karagounis's corner from the left is whipped in low and Dellas toes the ball into the air and over the bar at the near post.
    • 54' Hansson is penalised for thudding into the back of Charisteas. Free-kick to Greece on their right. Karagounis's delivery is headed behind by Andersson.
    • 53' Svensson's inswinging corner is cleared at the near post.
    • 52' Seitaridis is cautioned for tripping Ljungberg about 30-35 yards from goal on the Sweden left. Svensson touches the ball to Ibrahimovic, and his shot flicks off Karagounis's knee and flies over the bar.
    • 51' Greece are back on the ball. Cue more aimless passing around at the back.
    • 49' It's starting to feel a little stormy inside the stadium. We had some lightning during half-time, and the wind is beginning to pick up now as well.
    • 48' Great chance for Sweden! Wilhelmsson is picked out in acres of space on the Swedish right-hand side but with Nikopolidis racing from his line he sidefoots the ball over the crossbar!
    • 47' Larsson is upended by Basinas in midfield, but referee Busacca plays the advantage.
    • 46' The second half begins. Greece make a half-time change, with Manchester City striker Giorgios Samaras - who spent the latter part of last season on loan at Celtic - replacing Fanis Gekas.
    • 45+1' Wilhelmsson skips away from his man down the Swedish left before clipping in a cross that's just too high for Larsson! And the half-time whistles goes after a thoroughly dreary first 45 minutes. Let's pray for a goal in the second half.
    • 45' Karagounis's corner is headed away at the near post. There will be one minute of added time.
    • 44' Good save Isaksson! Basinas takes aim from distance and Isaksson drops to his left to push the ball around the post!
    • 43' More pointless passing from the Greeks at the back. This is anti-football at its very worst.
    • 42' Sweden are back on the ball now, but every time they're in possession they find themselves confronted by a mass of white shirts. Karagounis catches Ibrahimovic right in the goolies in midfield, and the big Swede drops to the deck. Ouch.
    • 40' Greece desultorily pass the ball around at the back. It's depressingly unadventurous play, and the Swedish fans are not remotely impressed.
    • 38' Charisteas surges down the inside-right channel before firing in a rising shot that's straight at Isaksson.
    • 37' Better from Sweden! A back-heel from Ljungberg sets up Larsson on the edge of the box, but once again the former Celtic man opts not to shoot, and his pass towards Ibrahimovic is cut out.
    • 35' Is this game starting to open up? Probably not, but Sweden certainly look the likelier scorers at the moment.
    • 34' Basinas's corner is headed away at the near post.
    • 33' Seitaridis's right-wing cross is headed over his own crossbar by Mellberg.
    • 32' Sweden inches away! After some sustained pressure from Sweden, Ljungberg curls a cross into the box from deep on the left and Ibrahimovic heads it inches over the bar with Nikopolidis beaten!
    • 31' Ljungberg tries to get away from Kyrgiakos down the Sweden left but Kyrgiakos manages to put the ball behind for a corner.
    • 30' Half an hour gone here, and there's been precious little goalmouth action.
    • 29' A sensationally aimless long ball from Dellas flies out of play for a Sweden goal kick. The sky above the stadium is now indigo blue. Not quite as spectacular as the blood-red, but still a fine sight nonetheless.
    • 28' Karagounis wins a free-kick off Svensson in midfield, and throws in a couple of tumbles for effect.
    • 27' Ibrahimovic is penalised for a push inside the Greek penalty area as he looks to get on the end of Alexandersson's inswinging right-wing cross.
    • 26' Paraskevas Antzas clears the ball ahead of Wilhelmsson on the Sweden right.
    • 25' Charisteas makes a nuisance of himself inside the Sweden box and Hansson hesitates as he waits for Isaksson to come from his line, but Nilsson comes across from left-back to hoof the ball clear.
    • 24' Vasilis Torosidis's cross from the Greek left is blocked on the edge of the Sweden box.
    • 23' Ibrahimovic finds space on the Sweden right but delays for far too long before playing a cross in, and Angelos Basinas coolly chests the ball back to his goalkeeper.
    • 22' Ibrahimovic clips a pass towards Larsson, who's haring down the inside-right channel, but the Inter man just overcooks it and the ball goes behind for a goal kick.
    • 20' Wilhelmsson's cross from the left finds Ibrahimovic on the edge of the box, but he's crowded out. The ball loops into the air and Ljungberg is painfully sandwiched between Kyrgiakos and Traianos Dellas as they jump for the ball!
    • 19' Katsouranis's pass down the Greek right is cut out by Sweden left-back Mikael Nilsson.
    • 18' Karagounis's cross from the Greek left is headed away by Hansson at the near post.
    • 17' Larsson's header puts Christian Wilhelmsson clean through on the Greek goal, but he's offside.
    • 16' Larsson looks for Freddie Ljungberg down the Sweden left but the ball is touched out of play for a throw-in by a Greek defender.
    • 15' A steady start from both sides here, although Sweden have seen most of the ball.
    • 14' Kyrgiakos goes to ground wide on the Sweden left under pressure from Ibrahimovic and a free-kick is awarded. The sky over the stadium is now blood-red. It's a stunning sight.
    • 12' A cross from the Greek left finds Theofanis Gekas at the back post but he can't react quickly enough and Sweden clear.
    • 11' Great effort from Svensson! A long throw by Niclas Alexandersson from the Swedish right is cleared to the edge of the box and Anders Svensson thumps a left-footed volley over the crossbar!
    • 10' Giourkas Seitaridis is penalised for using his arm to control a lovely crossfield pass from Karagounis.
    • 9' Hearty booing from the Greek fans as Sweden string the ball around at the back. Larsson just can't get on the end of a long ball that rolls out for a Greece goal kick.
    • 8' Katsouranis goes down holding his right thigh after a collision with Daniel Andersson, but looks like he'll be able to continue.
    • 7' Great play from Charisteas! He weaves his way past a couple of defenders on the right-hand edge of the penalty area before driving in a low left-footer that's straight at Andreas Isaksson.
    • 5' Ibrahimovic plays a cross into the Greek box from the right but's it behind Larsson and Greece clear.
    • 4' The corner is curled in to the back post and Greece goalkeeper Antonios Nikopolidis gets nowhere near it, but Kostas Katsouranis does well to head it away from Larsson at the back post.
    • 3' Sweden win a corner on the right and Hansson gets his head to it at the near post, before the ball is put behind for another corner on the Sweden left.
    • 2' Angelos Charisteas - scorer of the winning goal against Portugal in the 2004 final - is booked after jumping in on Hansson with his studs showing.
    • 1' Off we go! Greece kick off, and they will attack from left to right in the first half. Petter Hansson launches a long ball towards Ibrahimovic, but Sotirios Kyrgiakos gets above him to head clear.
    • 19:44 'Grekland - Sverige' is sown onto the front of the Swedish players' shirts, which probably means 'Greece - Sweden' in Swedish. Unless it's the washing instructions or something. A rather muted effort on the anthem from the Greeks - lots of closed eyes and mumbling. Much better from the Swedes.
    • 19:41 The teams emerge onto the pitch, mascots in hand, led out by referee Massimo Busacca of Switzerland. Sweden are in their rather fetching yellow shirts, blue shorts and yellow socks, Greece in all white. It's a beautiful evening in Salzburg, a bit drizzly but with a glorious peachy sky.
    • 19:35 Formation-wise, it looks like a 5-3-2 for Greece, while Sweden will play in a 4-4-2 with Larsson dropping deep in support of Ibrahimovic. The pundits aren't expecting much from this game, particularly after the stifling way Greece played at the last tournament, but in such an even group neither side can afford to start with a defeat.
    • 19:25 TEAM NEWS: Greece have no injury worries going into the game, with 2004 hero Giorgios Karagounis able to start in midfield after shaking off a knee knock. Veteran Sweden striker Henrik Larsson starts up front alongside Internazionale frontman Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has only just returned from a swollen knee problem.
    • 19:15 Hello and welcome to eurosport.yahoo.co.uk's LIVE coverage of Greece v Sweden from the Wals-Siezenheim Stadium in Salzburg. Reigning European champions Greece are out to prove that their 2004 triumph was no fluke, while Sweden will look to protect a four-match unbeaten record at European Championship finals. Kick-off is at 19:45 BST.

  • Team Stats

    Greece Stats Sweden
    58% Possession 41%
    11 Shots 13
    4 Shots on target 3
    1 Saves 2
    6 Corners 6
    15 Fouls 11
    2 Offsides 2
    3 Yellow cards 0
    0 Red cards 0
    18 Tackles 18
    391 Accurate passes 267
    47 Bad passes 52

  • Player Stats

    G =
    Goals
    S =
    Shots
    SoT =
    Shot on Target
    F =
    Fouls
    FW =
    Fouls Won
    O =
    Offsides
    A =
    Assists
    AP =
    Accurate Passes
    BP =
    Bad Passes
    T =
    Tackles
    • Greece
      G S SoT F FW O A AP BP T
      1 Antonis Nikopolidis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 0
      19 Paraskevas Antzas 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 42 3 0
      5 Traianos Dellas 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 49 7 2
      2 Giourkas Seitaridis 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 43 1 3
      16 Sotirios Kyrgiakos 0 0 0 1 3 1 0 48 2 3
      21 Kostas Katsouranis 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 38 5 3
      6 Angelos Basinas 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 54 8 0
      15 Vassilas Torosidis 0 1 1 1 3 0 0 26 10 0
      10 Giorgios Karagounis 0 3 0 2 3 0 0 40 7 4
      17 Theofanis Gekas 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 7 2 1
      9 Angelos Charisteas 0 4 2 1 1 0 0 22 1 0
      14 Dimitrios Salpingidis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      7 Georgios Samaras 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 7 1 1
      23 Nikos Liberopoulos 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      13 Alexandros Tzorvas 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      4 Nikos Spyropoulos 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      22 Alexandros Tziolis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      12 Konstantinos Chalkias 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      3 Christos Patsatzoglou 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      20 Ioannis Amanatidis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 1
      11 Loukas Vintra 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      18 Giannis Goumas 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      8 Stelios Giannakopoulos 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
    • Sweden
      G S SoT F FW O A AP BP T
      1 Andreas Isaksson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 1 0
      3 Olof Mellberg 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 21 0 1
      2 Mikael Nilsson 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 27 4 1
      4 Petter Hansson 1 3 1 1 1 0 0 19 4 1
      19 Daniel Andersson 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 42 5 4
      8 Anders Svensson 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 46 7 1
      21 Christian Wilhelmsson 0 1 0 0 2 1 0 17 4 1
      7 Niclas Alexandersson 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 22 0 0
      9 Fredrik Ljungberg 0 1 1 0 2 1 0 20 12 2
      17 Henrik Larsson 0 1 0 3 0 0 1 24 10 2
      10 Zlatan Ibrahimovic 1 3 1 4 1 0 0 17 5 1
      16 Kim Kallstrom 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      11 Johan Elmander 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1
      23 Mikael Dorsin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      15 Andreas Granqvist 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      6 Tobias Linderoth 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      22 Markus Rosenberg 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 2
      14 Daniel Majstorovic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      5 Fredrik Stoor 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 1
      20 Marcus Allbäck 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      13 Johan Wiland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      18 Sebastian Larsson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      12 Rami Shaaban 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

  • Summary

    • 87' Torosidis latches onto a loose pass before breaking into the Swedish box and drawing a save from Isaksson with a shot from a narrow angle on the left.
    • 72' GOAL! 2-0 Sweden! Ljungberg's shot is saved, Elmander pokes the ball up into the air and Hansson somehow scrambles the ball home off his left knee at the back post! That was as scrappy as the first goal was sublime.
    • 67' GOAL! 1-0 Sweden! An absolute belter from Ibrahimovic! He exchanges passes with Larsson on the right-hand corner of the penalty area before rifling an unstoppable drive into the top-left corner! Great goal, and just what the game needed.
    • 66' Greece go close! Dellas's right-wing cross is headed backwards by Hansson and goes wide of the left-hand post by inches with Isaksson beaten! Almost a superb own goal.
    • 62' Opportunity for Greece! Karagounis seizes on a loose pass from Mellberg in midfield, has an attempted lob blocked and then sees a second effort deflected back to Isaksson.
    • 48' Great chance for Sweden! Wilhelmsson is picked out in acres of space on the Swedish right-hand side but with Nikopolidis racing from his line he sidefoots the ball over the crossbar!
    • 44' Good save Isaksson! Basinas takes aim from distance and Isaksson drops to his left to push the ball around the post!
    • 38' Charisteas surges down the inside-right channel before firing in a rising shot that's straight at Isaksson.
    • 32' Sweden inches away! After some sustained pressure from Sweden, Ljungberg curls a cross into the box from deep on the left and Ibrahimovic heads it inches over the bar with Nikopolidis beaten!
    • 11' Great effort from Svensson! A long throw by Niclas Alexandersson from the Swedish right is cleared to the edge of the box and Anders Svensson thumps a left-footed volley over the crossbar!
    • 7' Great play from Charisteas! He weaves his way past a couple of defenders on the right-hand edge of the penalty area before driving in a low left-footer that's straight at Andreas Isaksson.

Live Team Line-Up

  • Referee: Massimo Busacca

  • Greece

    Manager: Otto Rehhagel

    Captain: Angelos Basinas

    Starting line-up

    • A. Nikopolidis
    • G. Seitaridis Yellow Card
    • S. Kyrgiakos
    • T. Dellas Substitution Out (69′)
    • V. Torossidis Yellow Card
    • A. Basinas
    • P. Antzas
    • G. Karagounis
    • K. Katsouranis
    • A. Charisteas Yellow Card
    • T. Gekas Substitution Out (45′)

    Subs

    • I. Amanatidis Substitution In69′
    • C. Patsatzoglou
    • N. Liberopoulos
    • I. Goumas
    • K. Chalkias
    • S. Giannakopoulos
    • L. Vyntra
    • N. Spiropoulos
    • A. Tziolis
    • G. Samaras Substitution In45′
    • D. Salpingidis
    • A. Tzorvas

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • Sweden

    Manager: Lars Lagerback

    Captain: Fredrik Ljungberg

    Starting line-up

    • A. Isaksson
    • N. Alexandersson Substitution Out (73′)
    • O. Mellberg
    • P. Hansson Goal
    • M. Nilsson
    • D. Andersson
    • A. Svensson
    • C. Wilhelmsson Substitution Out (77′)
    • H. Larsson
    • F. Ljungberg
    • Z. Ibrahimovic Goal Substitution Out (70′)

    Subs

    • M. Allbäck
    • J. Elmander Substitution In70′
    • K. Källström
    • R. Shaaban
    • M. Dorsin
    • S. Larsson
    • M. Rosenberg Substitution In77′
    • D. Majstorovic
    • A. Granqvist
    • J. Wiland
    • F. Stoor Substitution In73′
    • T. Linderoth

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None