March 29th 2005 |
Rio de Janeiro, Maracana
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SWEDEN - AUSTRIA |
1-2 (1-0)
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GOALS 31' 1-0 Gunnar Nordahl
54' 1-1 Josef Bican
75' 1-2 Matthias Sindelar
REFEREE Said Belqola (Morocco)
ATTENDANCE 97,000
YELLOW CARDS Nilsson, Rydell (SWE) - Ocwirk, Sara (AUT)
SWEDEN (Coach: George Raynor, system 4-2-4)
1 Ronnie Hellström
2 Orvar Bergmark (2nd captain)
5 Bengt Gustavsson
4 Björn Nordquist (captain) (-80)
3 Erik Nilsson
10 Gunnar Gren
8 Nils Liedholm
19 Kurt Hamrin
9 Gunnar Nordahl
15 Sven Rydell (-71)
11 Lennart Skoglund (-63)
Substitutes:
13 Sigvard Parling (+63)
20 Henrik Larsson (+71)
14 Ralf Edström (+80)
AUSTRIA (Coach: Hugo Meisl, system 4-3-3)
1 Rudi Hiden
18 Robert Sara
5 Bruno Pezzey
6 Ernst Happel
4 Gerhard Hanappi
8 Herbert Prohaska (-90)
7 Ernst Ocwirk (captain)
10 Matthias Sindelar
13 Josef Bican
12 Franz Binder (-60)
14 Karl Koller (-88)
Substitutes:
9 Hans Krankl (+60)
20 Alfred Körner (+88)
15 Walter Nausch (+90)
MATCHREPORT
Hugo Meisl had learned his lesson from the first match against England and
threw the 1-on-1 tactic overboard that Austria had chosen for that match.
Ernst Happel now played constantly behind his three defenders, Pezzey had
the order to shadow Rydell closely and Sara, replacement for the suspended
Sesta, was brought in to keep an eye on Nordahl. Sindelar now played in
midfield, more exactly from the left, and Bican and Binder had the
opportunity to show what they could do from the beginning. Hans Krankl was
benched.
For Sweden Gunnar Nordahl had recovered from the injury that had kept him
out of the game for most of the time against Denmark. But surpringly it
wasn't Sven Rydell who was left out of the team, but coach Raynor opted for
four strikers. He asked Hamrin and Skoglund to play just a little less deep
than against the Danes and to function as midfielder when Sweden had
possession. Rydell, with his goal in the first match, had forced himself
into the starting XI. All in all an extremely attacking side, not what you
would expect from a solid but mostly not too daring side like Sweden.
The fans of a tactical battle had a great time is this match. It turned out
to be the expected collision between two equally strong teams, with strikers
considered to be better than their opponents in defence. And that appeared
to be the case on the field. Sara found it very difficult to do something
against the strong and agile Nordahl, who wasn't hampered anymore by his
injury sustained against Denmark. Pezzey had to run a lot of metres to
cover Rydell. On the other side Gustavsson and Nilsson were in trouble when
the Austrians found their strikers Bican and Binder. The first chance in the
match came for Austria, a little bit better out of the starting blocks.
Prohaska released Bican, his shot hit the outside of the post but Hellström
would have saved it had it been between the posts.
>From the 10th minute both teams equally strong. In midfield there was a hard
fought battle between Ocwirk and Liedholm, but Sindelar mostly was the
better of Gren. The Virtuoso from Vienna decided the pace of the game, had a
lot of good passes and fine individual efforts. One of those actions led to
a free shooting opportunity for Bican, but Nordquist tackled him from
behind. Referee Belqola saw no foul. Ronnie Hellström, who again established
his reputation as one the best goalkeepers in World Cup history, kept Koller
from scoring and on the other side of the pitch Hiden was present when
Skoglund threatened to break through. He forced the Swede to the outside and
blocked the effort to cross. All that left Sweden was a corner kick.
It was a perfect balanced match but the lead for Sweden still came a bit as
a surprise. Hamrin for the first time beat Hanappi on speed and served
Rydell. The small striker hit Hiden with his volley, but inevitably Nordahl
was in the right spot to net the rebound: 1-0. Sweden had put themselves
into the driver's seat, having won against Denmark and having taken this
lead against Austria. The second round was well in sight. The confidence
that Austria had shown until that moment seemed to have disappeared. Passes
didn't reach their destination, they didn't work together as much as they
had done and captain Ocwirk had lots of work to do to keep his men to their
task. Behind against the sound Swedish team certainly left them with a huge
problem. Scoring wouldn't be enough, they had to win.
But Austria came out of the dressing room for the second half with a fresh
attitude, determined to make the most out of it and prepared to storm the
Swedish castle. And within 2 minutes they got the perfect chance to turn the
game around. Koller proved to be quicker than Bergmark and the defender
tackled him. Koller fell to the ground, Belqola decided that it was enough
for a penalty kick. Happel crossed the field to equal the score but
Hellström brilliantly dived it out of the corner. It was still 1-0 this way,
but Austria had smelt blood and remained the better team now. They knew they
would be out of the competition should they lose this match and put the
Swedes under enormous pressure. Happel, felling guilty of missing the
penalty, now played more in midfield than in the first half and that gave
Ocwirk the support he needed. And it paid off. The equalizer came, though it
was a remarkable goal. Bican shot on goal from distance, from Gustavsson's
leg it bounced back from the bar. Bican had run on and fired it in: 1-1.
It was now everyone's game. Belqola had to give a few yellow cards to keep
things decent. But it was a very attractive match. There was a lot to enjoy.
And most of all the Austrians stole the show. Sindelar painted one attack
after the other, passing the ball to his strikers who were superior to the
Swedish defenders just as predicted. Krankl, who had come in for Binder, was
close to scoring but Hellström once more kept his team in the race. But in
the 75th minute even the splendid goalie was left without a chance. A high
cross from Hanappi was headed through by Krankl. Sindelar arrived at the
second post to slide it in: 1-2. It was a well deserved lead. Austria had
made the game in the second half and apart from a few efforts from distance
by Gren - all of them no problem for Hiden - Sweden hadn't been able to
create chances.
Sweden, where Henrik Larsson had replaced the tired Rydell earlier, now
substituted Nordquist for an extra man up front, tall Ralf Edström. Raynor
took the risk of running into an Austrian counterattack that would throw all
Swedish hopes to tatters. Austria had to go back and had Lady Luck on their
side when Edström sensationally was close to equalizing 30 seconds after
entering the pitch. He turned away from Pezzey, just as tall, but when he
tried to tap it in suddenly Hiden was there to block it. The goalkeeper also
spoilt Gren's effort. Henrik Larsson, who did well in the minutes that were
given to him, strongly went past Sindelar and Hanappi but also found Hiden
in the way. It ended 2-1 in favour of Austria. It was the win they needed so
badly and what they had fought for. It had been an interesting and open
match. Both teams now were on 3 points with everything in their own hands.
First England would meet Denmark but regardless of the result, the eventual
outcome of this close group would be decided in the last match, all teams
would still be possible qualifiers.
Switzerland had no chance in their first match against Argentina and must
upset the other big favourite in this group, Germany, to keep a chance of
qualifying. Everyone, the Swiss themselves in the first place, realize that
it is very difficult, but there is always the possibility of a surprise. Any
coach in this All Time World Cup had a lot of great players to choose from,
but Karl Rappan has no worldbeaters, knows it and will not turn everything
upside down. They hope for a bit of underestimating by the Germans. Helmut
Schön has no worries. Germany won easily against Turkey and hope for just
as little resistance from Switzerland. Romualdas Arppi Filho is the referee,
the match will be played in the Wembley Stadium in London where Germany have
different memories from. Come back here next Friday and experience what
happens between Switzerland and Germany.
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