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| February 1st 2005 |
Stockholm, Råsunda Stadion
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| SWEDEN - DENMARK |
2-1 (2-0)
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GOALS 2' 1-0 Gunnar Nordahl
41' 2-0 Sven Rydell
69' 2-1 Preben Elkjaer-Larsen
REFEREE Maurice Guigue (France)
ATTENDANCE 47,000
YELLOW CARDS -
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
6 Bo Larsson (-71)
8 Nils Liedholm
19 Kurt Hamrin
9 Gunnar Nordahl (-22)
11 Lennart Skoglund (-80)
Substitutes:
15 Sven Rydell (+22)
18 Ove Grahn (+71)
14 Ralf Edström (+80)
DENMARK (Coach: Sepp Piontek, system 4-3-3)
1 Peter Schmeichel
18 John Sivebaek (-66)
3 Ivan Nielsen
4 Morten Olsen (captain)
17 Jan Heintze
15 Frank Arnesen (-75)
5 Nils Middelboe
6 Sören Lerby
8 Michael Laudrup
9 Poul Nielsen (-83)
11 Preben Elkjaer-Larsen
Substitutes:
14 Allan Simonsen (+66)
10 Ole Madsen (+75)
20 Brian Laudrup (+83)
MATCHREPORT
It wasn´t deserved, the home advantage had played a big role and referee
Guigue denied Denmark a clear penalty kick. But when the market was over,
the points belonged to the Swedes.
This was the game Sweden played in their own Rasunda Stadium and they
immediately tried to gain control. It started with a load of attacks from
the yellowblue and in the 2nd minute already, the big gun Gunnar Nordahl
could slot home from close range after a cross from Kurt Hamrin. Nordahl
held off Ivan Nielsen and Peter Schmeichel could do nothing about it. It was
Nordahl's only feat of arms in the match. After 20 minutes Ivan Nielsen
wouldn't take more chances and tackled Nordahl heavily. So heavily that the
Swede was hurt and that was the end for the topscorer. Sven Rydell, a
prolific scorer in the 20's and 30's, came in his place.
Denmark didn't seem to be too impressed by falling behind so soon. Under
guidance of Morten Olsen the cool, but still temperamental man, Danes played
their favourite game: trying to combine through their active midfielders and
this way serving their forwards. Coach Sepp Piontek had surprisingly chosen
Michael Laudrup as a forward but he wasn't starved of the ball this night.
In midfield Nils Middelboe played an important part, he was a class on his
own and clearly the better of Bo Larsson. Sören Lerby met Gunnar Gren in an
interesting match-up and the same applied to the confrontation between
playful Frank Arnesen and the calculating Nils Liedholm. It gave the Danes
the better of play, but no goals. Ronnie Hellström, the sound Swedish
goalie, parried a long shot from Arnesen well and Elkjaer-Larsen missed two
shots from 10 metres out. Sweden were not able to set much against it.
Hamrin had provided Nordahl with the cross for 1-0, but apart from that he
had nothing to tell against Heintze and with Nordahl out the main threat had
disappeared anyway. And as far as Lennart Skoglund was concerned, Sweden
seemed to play with 10 men.
Thus a fine performance by Denmark, until that one moment that would cost
them dear, a few minutes from the end of the first half. A long kick from
Gustavsson should have been intercepted by Morten Olsen, but the captain
misjudged it completely and Rydell was gone. Gentleman Olsen wasn't exactly
the person to foul him intentionally, a couple of seconds later Schmeichel
was outplayed too and the 2-0 was on the scoresheet. Against the run of
play, but one moment of inattention did the damage to Denmark. Sweden had
taken the most of their two chances.
Nevertheless, Piontek made no changes during the break. He relied on the
class his team had up front and they had shown to be able to play up against
the home team. The only thing the German coach hoped for, was for more
attention at the back. And they did so, the Danes. They played agressively
and Sweden were jailed in their own half. It was a one-way traffic in
Hellström's direction. The Swedish goalie was tested by Michael Laudrup who
released a header. Hellström saved it perfectly and was at his post again
when Poul Nielsen tried from a tight angle. It was all Denmark in the second
half, but goals didn't come easy. Piontek decided now that he had to bring
fresh blood and Allan Simonsen, the quick and skillful striker, came in place
of back John Sivebaek. Michael Laudrup now came more from midfield and tried
to set up even more attacks.
Laudrup immediately stamped his authority. He released Elkjaer-Larsen who
rounded Nordquist easily and tapped it over Hellström in the net: 2-1.
Everything possible again. It gave Denmark new hope. Ole Madsen replaced
Frank Arnesen and that increased the pressure. And shortly after the
substitution, the most disputed moment in the match: Nordquist clearly
handled a Middelboe cross into corner. Friend and foe awaited a penalty kick
for Denmark but Guigue didn't see it. Denmark, not the team to start
complaining, wouldn't stop pressing and Madsen tried his luck a couple of
times, only to find Helleström in great shape. Until then Sweden had done
nothing but defending in the second half, but when the end of the match
approached the hometeam, with Grahn for Larsson and target man Edström for
the invisible Skoglund, found their play again. Hamrin could have decided
it, but after skipping past Heintze he hit it straight at Schmeichel. The
giant goalkeeper couldn't hold the ball, but Ivan Nielsen slided it away
before Edström could score. When Maurice Guigue, the most discussed man on
the pitch who didn't show a single card, ended the match Sweden had won
three hardfought points. They celebrated as if the All Time World Cup had
been won already.
Denmark was left with a moral hangover. They had controlled the match
throughout apart for a few silly moments that cooked their goose. Reaching the
second round now would be very difficult, with matches against England and
Austria coming up. Sweden, a tactically whetted team, had taken optimum
advantage of the chances that Denmark themselves had offered them. In this
very even group a win would be important for any team and it sure was for
Sweden. Denmark now would travel to Buenos Aires for the match with England,
while Sweden would meet Austria in Rio de Janeiro.
Next Friday in Berne, Switzerland receives Argentina, or should we say David
receives Goliath? Argentine coach Cesar Menotti has great individuals like
Maradona and Di Stefano on his side, but yet has decided that Daniel
Passarella, the man who served him so well in 1978 and 1982, will captain
the team. It remains to be seen how Maradona responds to it, the more
because Menotti was the coach to deny him a place in the 1978 squad. Still
Argentina are handled as one of the big favourites. Switzerland hope they
will not be overrun. Coach Karl Rappan certainly is expected to create some
new system to withstand the biancocelestes, and hopes that the Abegglen
brothers André "Trello" and Max "Xam" as well as Josef Hügi can hurt them at
the back where Argentina, apart from Passarella, might be just a little more
vulnerable. What happens? We'll see on Friday.
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