Friendly result
England 3 Sweden 0
Man of the match: Owen
Report
The first of the friendlies has just taken place which turned out to be a completely one sided affair. The England side dominated play in a match which the swedes were incredibly poor. England created the early chances and Emile Heskey starting the match, headed just over after 6 minutes from a David Beckham freekick on the edge of the penalty box. England did not have to wait long for a breakthrough, and when Dyer dashed down the wing on the right hand side, he crossed for Owen who headed straight at the keeper who couldn't hold the ball. It spilled out to Scholes where the England midfielder made no mistake in knocking the ball in from close range on 13 minutes. After the goal it was all England, and they played with swagger and guile, a change from the days of long ball 4-4-2, and with the tactics of their Italian Coach, Lami, the football on display was fresh and exciting. Mid way through the first half, the keeper was tested on a number of occasions, with both Scholes and Owen going close. The swedes found a breakthrough on 31 minutes only for Henrik Larsson to shoot tamely at David James, a good chance wasted. Zltatan Ibrahimovic also had a decent chance only to head wide. With the half time whistle approaching, Owen Pounced to head in from a Beckham corner to make it 2-0.
The second half started much the same way as the first half ended. England created more chances, and with Sweden simply being outplayed in every department. 3 half time substitutions were made, with Beckham, Heskey and Scholes making way for Joe Cole, Rooney and Lampard. Even with these changes England kept up the pressure and Owen found a way through latching onto a pass from Gerrard, but his shot was saved well by Hedman. A mistake by Campball on 76 minutes, let Andersson through but the swede hit a speculative shot over the bar which was always rising. A minute later, another England attack ended in a third goal, when Rooney played in Lampard on the right and his looping cross met the head of Owen, who slotted home for his second, and England's third to kill the tie and giving the Swedish coach some food for thought with Euro 2004 fast approaching. England on the other hand could take alot of plus points from this performance and have fired out a warning that they mean business.
Goal Highlights 9mb (click here)
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