Argentina scored three first-half goals as they edged Sweden 3-2 in their international friendly at the Friends Arena in Stockholm. More
90+5' The referee brings proceedings to an end. Argentina edge out Sweden 3-2 in a hugely enetertaining match. Thanks for joining us.
90+4' GOAL!! Sweden grab a late goal. Rasmus Elm smashes home a free kick from 35 yards, leaving Romero absolutely no chance. That ball was hit with an awful lot of power.
90+3' Rasmus Elm finds some space down the right and sends a lofted ball into the penalty area. Hysen gets above Coloccini but can only send his header over the bar from 12 yards.
90+1' Gonzalo Higuain, who scored Argentina's third, makes way for Wigan Athletic's Franco Di Santo.
87' Fabricio Collocini is given the last four minutes as Ezequiel Garay is replaced. Lavezzi wins a corner for his side.
83' Pontius Wernbloom goes into the book for a rather sloppy challenge on Messi. The Barca man gives the Swede a piece of his mind before eventually getting to his feet.
82' Pontius Wernbloom goes into the book for a rather sloppy challenge on Messi. The Barca man gives the Swede a piece of his mind before eventually getting to his feet.
80' Messi nearly gets his goal! He initially starts his side’s attack and then makes his way into the box. Higuain shows a turn of pace on the left flank to skip past a challenge before firing into the penalty area. Messi looks certain to stroke the ball home only for Granqvist to make a superb sliding challenge.
76' Lavezzi does come on and replaces Aguero. Pontius Wernbloom is introduced for the hosts, with Kim Kallstrom coming on. Jimmy Durmaz is also given a run out.
69' Fernando Gago makes way for Ever Banega in a like-for-like change for the visitors.
68' Aguero is the first man to go into the book after a late challenge on Granqvist. It was a striker’s challenge and he’s rightfully go into the book.
63' The hosts make another change as Mikael Lustig is replaced by Rasmus Elm.
62' The visitors also make a change. Cristian Ansaldi replaces Pablo Zabaleta.
61' Adam Johansson is introduced as Anders Svensson makes way.
60' Aguero misses an open goal. The striker makes a diagonal run which is spotted by Messi and the Man City striker cuts past a few challenges on his way into the penalty area. He continues his run and evades the challenge of Isaksson before attempting a finish from a tight angle but sends it wide.
57' Argentina go so close to adding a fourth goal. Isaksson makes a superb overhead-kick clearance off his line after Messi had attempted a cheeky lob. The visitors are adamant it had crossed the line but replays show the keeper managed to make the clearance in time.
49' There’s a mix up in the Argentina box as Granqvist’s corner is met by the head of J. Olsson but the defender can’t direct his header on goal. It loops up as Romero rushes out and tries to clear it with a punch but makes very little contact with the ball, leaving Mascherano to make the clearance.
47' Argentina have also made a change. Walter Montillo comes on as the visitors instantly gain possession of the ball and look to attack. Angel Di Maria is the man to go off.
46' The second half is under way. The hosts have made change as Zlatan Ibrahimovic is replaced by Matthias Ranegie.
45' The half time whistle is blown. What a thoroughly entertaining 45 minutes of football.
38' The visiting side go right up the other end and nearly add to their tally. Aguero and Di Maria both hold their run superbly as Messi shows off some more magic to advance down field. The No. 10 opts to play in Aguero who fires at goal from a tight angle, past the stationary Isaksson and only marginally past the post.
36' The Swedes have their first shot on goal for some time, but it’s nothing to trouble Romero. Svensson finds some space on the left touchline and cuts inside after receive the ball from Larsson. He feeds the ball into the feet of Kacaniklic who does superbly to turn on the spot but can only fire into the arms of the Argentina stopper.
23' GOAL!! HIGUAIN SCORES. The visitors exchange a number of short, sharp passes on the edge of the Sweden penalty area, creating some space for Messi to have a shot at goal. It’s hit with plenty of power and Isaksson can only parry it out to the penalty spot. Higuain reacts quickest and all he has to do is tap it into an empty net, which he does with ease.
20' GOAL!! ARGENTINA ARE BACK IN FRONT!! Di Maria carries the ball through the middle of the pitch, completely unchallenged. He plays a delightful pass into the path of Aguero – who makes a darting run. Granqvist attempts a sliding interception but can’t quite get anything on the ball as Aguero takes one touch before dinking the ball over the onrushing Isaksson. Lovely finish.
18' GOAL!!! Granqvist’s dangerous inswinging corner is met by the towering Jonas Olssen, who rises higher than everybody at the far post to head home past a helpless Sergio Romero.
7' KACANIKLIC SHOULD SCORE!! Ibrahimovic bursts down the left and cuts inside his man before rolling the ball into the path of Kacaniklic who only has the goalkeeper to beat. He stretches for the ball, however, and drags his shot wide from 10 yards under some real pressure.
3' GOAL!! Argentina score. The visitors gain possession on the halfway line and attack in numbers. Sweden are short at the back as Angel Di Maria bursts down the middle with options both right and left. The Real Madrid man opts to play it out to his left into the path of Higuain who take one touch before pulling the trigger. Mikael Lustig attempts to get a block in but can only divert it into his own net from 6 yards.
1' Referee Anthony Dauvergne blows his whistle. The game is under way.
19:25 How do you think this game will play out? Will magical Messi be the main man or will the inspirational Ibrahimovic steal the show? Let me know by commenting at the bottom of the page or by getting in touch on Twitter @JoshuaHayward99.
19:15 The teams are in - SWEDEN: Isaksson, Lustig, Jonas Olsson, Granqvist, Martin Olsson, Larsson, Svensson, Kallstrom, Kacaniklic, Ibrahimovic, Hysen... Subs: Nordfeldt, Elm, Bengtsson, Nilsson, Wernbloom, Safari, Ranegie, Johansson, Durmaz /// ARGENTINA: Romero, Garay, Campagnaro, Zabaleta, Federico Fernandez, Gago, Di Maria, Mascherano, Higuain, Messi, Aguero... Subs: Alvarez, Coloccini, Montillo, Augusto Fernandez, Ansaldi, Rinaudo, Peruzzi, Ever, Gaitan, Lavezzi, Di Santo, Andujar
90+4' GOAL!! Sweden grab a late goal. Rasmus Elm smashes home a free kick from 35 yards, leaving Romero absolutely no chance. That ball was hit with an awful lot of power.
90+3' Rasmus Elm finds some space down the right and sends a lofted ball into the penalty area. Hysen gets above Coloccini but can only send his header over the bar from 12 yards.
83' Pontius Wernbloom goes into the book for a rather sloppy challenge on Messi. The Barca man gives the Swede a piece of his mind before eventually getting to his feet.
80' Messi nearly gets his goal! He initially starts his side’s attack and then makes his way into the box. Higuain shows a turn of pace on the left flank to skip past a challenge before firing into the penalty area. Messi looks certain to stroke the ball home only for Granqvist to make a superb sliding challenge.
60' Aguero misses an open goal. The striker makes a diagonal run which is spotted by Messi and the Man City striker cuts past a few challenges on his way into the penalty area. He continues his run and evades the challenge of Isaksson before attempting a finish from a tight angle but sends it wide.
57' Argentina go so close to adding a fourth goal. Isaksson makes a superb overhead-kick clearance off his line after Messi had attempted a cheeky lob. The visitors are adamant it had crossed the line but replays show the keeper managed to make the clearance in time.
49' There’s a mix up in the Argentina box as Granqvist’s corner is met by the head of J. Olsson but the defender can’t direct his header on goal. It loops up as Romero rushes out and tries to clear it with a punch but makes very little contact with the ball, leaving Mascherano to make the clearance.
38' The visiting side go right up the other end and nearly add to their tally. Aguero and Di Maria both hold their run superbly as Messi shows off some more magic to advance down field. The No. 10 opts to play in Aguero who fires at goal from a tight angle, past the stationary Isaksson and only marginally past the post.
36' The Swedes have their first shot on goal for some time, but it’s nothing to trouble Romero. Svensson finds some space on the left touchline and cuts inside after receive the ball from Larsson. He feeds the ball into the feet of Kacaniklic who does superbly to turn on the spot but can only fire into the arms of the Argentina stopper.
23' GOAL!! HIGUAIN SCORES. The visitors exchange a number of short, sharp passes on the edge of the Sweden penalty area, creating some space for Messi to have a shot at goal. It’s hit with plenty of power and Isaksson can only parry it out to the penalty spot. Higuain reacts quickest and all he has to do is tap it into an empty net, which he does with ease.
20' GOAL!! ARGENTINA ARE BACK IN FRONT!! Di Maria carries the ball through the middle of the pitch, completely unchallenged. He plays a delightful pass into the path of Aguero – who makes a darting run. Granqvist attempts a sliding interception but can’t quite get anything on the ball as Aguero takes one touch before dinking the ball over the onrushing Isaksson. Lovely finish.
18' GOAL!!! Granqvist’s dangerous inswinging corner is met by the towering Jonas Olssen, who rises higher than everybody at the far post to head home past a helpless Sergio Romero.
7' KACANIKLIC SHOULD SCORE!! Ibrahimovic bursts down the left and cuts inside his man before rolling the ball into the path of Kacaniklic who only has the goalkeeper to beat. He stretches for the ball, however, and drags his shot wide from 10 yards under some real pressure.
3' GOAL!! Argentina score. The visitors gain possession on the halfway line and attack in numbers. Sweden are short at the back as Angel Di Maria bursts down the middle with options both right and left. The Real Madrid man opts to play it out to his left into the path of Higuain who take one touch before pulling the trigger. Mikael Lustig attempts to get a block in but can only divert it into his own net from 6 yards.
19:15 The teams are in - SWEDEN: Isaksson, Lustig, Jonas Olsson, Granqvist, Martin Olsson, Larsson, Svensson, Kallstrom, Kacaniklic, Ibrahimovic, Hysen... Subs: Nordfeldt, Elm, Bengtsson, Nilsson, Wernbloom, Safari, Ranegie, Johansson, Durmaz /// ARGENTINA: Romero, Garay, Campagnaro, Zabaleta, Federico Fernandez, Gago, Di Maria, Mascherano, Higuain, Messi, Aguero... Subs: Alvarez, Coloccini, Montillo, Augusto Fernandez, Ansaldi, Rinaudo, Peruzzi, Ever, Gaitan, Lavezzi, Di Santo, Andujar
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