May 6th 2005 |
London, Wembley Stadium
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ENGLAND - SWEDEN |
0-0
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GOALS -
REFEREE Sandor Puhl (Hungary)
ATTENDANCE 94,000
YELLOW CARDS Lawton (ENG) - Nordquist, Nilsson (SWE)
ENGLAND (Coach: Alf Ramsey, system 4-4-2)
1 Gordon Banks
2 Bob Crompton
5 Tony Adams
6 Bobby Moore (captain)
3 Roger Byrne
7 Stanley Matthews
8 Duncan Edwards
10 Bobby Charlton (-90)
15 Tom Finney (-62)
9 Gary Lineker (-86)
14 Tom Lawton
Substitutes:
13 Cliff Bastin (+62)
20 Steve Bloomer (+86)
16 Bryan Robson (+90)
SWEDEN (Coach: George Raynor, system 4-3-3)
1 Ronnie Hellström
2 Orvar Bergmark
5 Bengt Gustavsson
4 Björn Nordquist (captain)
3 Erik Nilsson
10 Gunnar Gren
16 Stefan Schwarz
8 Nils Liedholm
19 Kurt Hamrin
9 Gunnar Nordahl
14 Ralf Edström (-77)
Substitutes:
11 Lennart Skoglund (+77)
MATCHREPORT
Alf Ramsey, England's coach, changed his side on a few places compared to
the difficult match with Denmark that gained England a hardfought point.
Roger Byrne came back as left back, Tom Finney got his chance and the coach
preferred big Lawton to tiny Steve Bloomer up front. A draw would suit
England well, but on their own holy Wembley soil they knew they could only
play for three points. George Raynor came back from the 4 strikers
experiment that he had tried against Austria, without too much success.
Rydell was benched and Stefan Schwarz came in as a defensive midfielder.
Towering Ralf Edström played left winger instead of Lennart Skoglund who had
not impressed in the first two matches. Both teams looked quite offensive.
Though England didn't really need the win, they were out to force a decision
right away. Over the wings they shelled Hellström's goal and through the
middle Charlton and Edwards were a constant threat. But Sweden's defence was
just like a wall this day. Gustavsson marked Lawton and he did it very well,
Lawton had little chance to impose. Bergmark followed Lineker like a shadow.
And when the defenders couldn't hold them, Hellström again was a perfect
goalkeeper. Early chances came to Edwards and Finney, but Hellström stood in
their way. The Swedish goalie again proved to be among the world's better
goalkeepers. Apart from making saves on the line he was very sound punching
away crosses from both flanks.
On the other end Sweden also acquitted themselves well. A header from
Edström, who beat Crompton in the air, was kept out by Banks and Nordahl's
shot was blocked by Adams. The English stopper did well against the mighty
Swedish topscorer and this was the only time Nordahl got close to scoring.
Otherwise it was England that was at the wheel. Lineker just failed to get
on the end of a beautiful center by Matthews and a hammer from 25 metres out
from Edwards forced Hellström to a brilliant save. All that left the English
was a corner kick. Half time came without score.
With Denmark in front at the same time against Austria, Sweden had to go
forward after the break and they did. They had to accept the risk of running
into the English counterattack. It became more of an open match. Chances
came on both sides. Sweden were close to opening the score when Crompton
failed to clear a cross. The ball fell to Gren's feet but Banks got his
fists to it. Minutes later he tipped a free kick from Liedholm over the bar.
England almost opened the scoring when Lawton rose above Gustavsson but
again Hellström had the last word.
Then, after a little more than an hour, Ramsey took off the disappointing
Finney and brought in Cliff Bastin who immediately took centre stage. He ran
past Bergmark but his shot only reached the sidenetting. Slowly but surely
the freshness left the players' legs. The pace of the game had been high.
Still no goals however, no disaster for England but very dangerous for
Sweden who would be out with an Austrian or Danish win. Raynor decided to
bring Skoglund for the last 15 minutes, hoping that fresh blood would hurt
the tiring English defenders. Edström had to leave the field. Sweden were
eliminated when the message arrived in London that Denmark were leading
Austria. They threw everything forward but England stood tall in defence,
led by Moore and Adams. When referee Sandor Puhl blew the final whistle,
Sweden were still not sure about their fate but a late equalizer from
Austrian striker Binder saved them and put both Sweden and England through
in this magnificent Group of Death.
England would now travel to the Stadio Olimpico in Rome for a big clash with
either Argentina or Germany. The whole world looked forward to this match
with a lot of history. Regardless whether it would be Argentina or Germany.
Sweden would meet the winner of the same group, a match to be played in
Madrid.
The last matches in group G are without too much tension. Although Argentina
and Germany play a rematch of the 1986 and 1990 World Cup finals. At stake
is the win in the group. Germany need a draw to win it and play against
Sweden in the round of last 16. If Argentina win, the Germans play England.
Argentina-Germany is in Buenos Aires with referee George Reader. Both teams
are expected to play with their best teams, Helmut Schön might drop a
striker for this heavy test. Turkey and Switzerland are scheduled in the
huge Maracana for their last match that is completely meaningless, apart from
regaining a bit of pride after the two teams were humiliated by the giants
in the group. Referee here is Nikolai Latichev.
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