Sweden 2 France 0: Ibra-cadabra! Zlatan magic condemns Les Bleus to Spain clash

By Ian Ladyman

He may be going home early but Zlatan Ibrahimovic left a spectacular mark on Euro 2012 on Tuesday night.

On an evening when France flopped badly to allow Roy Hodgson’s England to steal first place in the group, the Sweden captain delivered the goal of the last 11 days in sweltering Kiev.

Something special: Zlatan Ibrahimovic produced a finish of the highest quality in the second half

Sweden had been dangerous all night and deserved their first  victory over France since 1969. Laurent Blanc’s unbelievably poor team will now have a quarter-final against Spain in Donetsk on Saturday.

French defender Philippe Mexes will miss that game after being booked last night, and France even conceded a second goal in added time to the  excellent Sebastian Larsson.

The highlights reels will focus on Ibrahimovic, though. The Milan forward has endured an eventful tournament but his stand-out memory will be the falling volley he contributed from 16 yards in the 54th minute.

The ball flew off his laces and into the net as he swept his right foot through the ball to connect with Larsson’s deep cross.

 

Threw it away: France will now face holders Spain in Donetsk on Saturday night

It was a stunning goal and gave France the punishment they deserved for a wretched  performance following a 23-game unbeaten run. It is unlikely they can recover in time for their meeting with the defending champions this weekend.

Those who saw them play so well to beat Ukraine last Friday would have fancied Blanc’s team to roll Sweden over. Maybe it was the oppressive heat in the Olympic Stadium or because two of the players who had played so well in Donetsk weren’t on the pitch. Winger Jeremy Menez was rested because he was on a yellow card and Yohan Cabaye was injured.

No way through: For the most part, Samir Nasri and the other attacking talent were frustrated 

Sweden, with only pride to play for, should have been in the lead by half-time. They could have gone ahead as early as the third minute when striker Ola Toivonen peeled off the back of Gael Clichy and headed a deep Martin Olsson cross just over.

Larsson had a header saved from a similar position before Toivonen galloped through after a mistake by the awful Mexes, rounded Hugo Lloris and hit the outside of a post from an angle.

Star man: Ibrahimovic was the focus of much of the French defense... but they couldn't keep him quiet

Doing his bit: The enigmatic striker did his part on the back foot as well

At times France looked lost. Newcastle forward Hatem Ben Arfa looked out of sync with Karim Benzema and Franck Ribery was having an evening to forget.

They had chances. Ribery drove an early shot at Sweden goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson from an angle while Yann M’Vila and substitutes Menez and Olivier Giroud went close as they chased the game late on.

Concerns: Nasri took a knock that required treatment during the match, but was able to continue

Clashes: As the game slipped away from France, their frustrations became more and more clear

Sweden remained dangerous on the break, though, and their whole bench were on their feet as they wrapped things up in the final seconds.

Another break down the right saw substitute Samuel Holmen volley a cross into the ground and up on to the bar before  Larsson smashed the rebound high into the net.

That settles it: Sebastian Larsson was on hand to smash home a second goal in stoppage time

French coach Blanc tends to do phlegmatic well. He will know, though, that things will get difficult from here.

He said: ‘Sweden have a player who can make the difference and that’s what happened but we were too average in too many areas. We were dominated.

‘We will need to find a new level against Spain and put in a really good performance, but it’s very difficult to imagine if we play like we did tonight.’