Euro 2012: Sweden 2-0 France - France finish runners-up

By Alan Robson
Published on 20/06/2012 02:28

FRANCE drifted into the quarter-finals of Euro 2012 despite second-half goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Sebastian Larsson providing a rousing Group D send-off for already-eliminated Sweden.

Scorers: Sweden - Ibrahimovic (54), Larsson (90)

Laurent Blanc’s men were second best throughout as they blew their big chance to emerge as group winners and in the end had England to thank for beating Ukraine and keeping them in the competition.

France will now face reigning champions Spain in the last eight.

Erik Hamren’s men, out after losing to both England and Ukraine, showed their intent from the start as they got forward well and fashioned their first chance with just three minutes on the clock.

Martin Olsson was allowed too much space on the left and floated a cross to Ola Toivonen, who outjumped the French defence but could only direct his free header over the bar.

Larsson headed over from an Olsson cross while the Swedes missed a chance in the tenth minute when Toivonen sprung clear and rounded French keeper Hugo Lloris only to then hit the post from a tight angle.

Sweden broke the deadlock after the interval when Larsson delivered a drifting ball in from the right which Ibrahimovic met with a spectacular volley to crash the Swedes ahead.

Olof Mellberg drew a magnificent save out of Lloris as Sweden came close to adding a second, but the French began to respond, with Samir Nasri drilling a shot wide and Yann M’Vila firing straight at Isaksson.

Substitute Jeremy Menez scuffed a chance straight at Isaksson with eight minutes to go, then Oliver Giroud headed over the bar from close range.

Sweden made it two in injury time when Christian Wilhelmsson hammered Andreas Granqvist’s cross against the bar and the ball rebounded for Larsson to ram home the simplest of chances..