Euro 2008

Qualifying group F

Spain 3 - Sweden 0

Spain: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Marchena, Puyol, Capdevila; Albelda; Iniesta (Joaquín 52'), Xavi, Cesc, David Silva (Riera 66'); David Villa (Tamudo 52'). 4-1-4-1.
Sweden: Isaksson; Nilsson, Mellberg, Hansson, Edman; Wilhelmsson (Bakircioglü 79'), Andersson (Källström 46'), Svensson, Ljungberg; Ibrahimovic, Rosenberg (Allback 59'). 4-4-2.

Goals:
1-0. 14. Capdevila. Turned ball into net after Cesc headed on Xavi's corner.
2-0. 39. Iniesta. Got on end of Capdevila cross to shoot into roof of net.
3-0. 65. Ramos. Poked ball back past Isaksson after Capdevila shot blocked.

Spain have qualified for the Euro 2008 finals after beating Sweden 3-0, a result which takes them above their opponents to the top of group F. As with the last game against Denmark, Luis Aragonés opted to line up with his three play-makers Cesc, Iniesta and Xavi in the line up, with Puyol and Villa coming in to strengthen the side. And within a quarter of an hour they were ahead, Capdevila turning the ball past Isaksson after Cesc headed on Xavi's corner for his first goal with "La Selección".

Villa hit the post with a free kick and Sergio Ramos fired a shot over the top as Spain continued to dominate, and with six minutes to go to the break Iniesta latched on to Capdevila's pass to score his team's second. Ibrahimovic got the ball in the net after hitting the post only to see the strike ruled out for offside, but Xavi and Cesc both went close before Ramos wrapped things up after another Xavi corner, firing the ball back in to the net after Wilhelmsson blocked Capdevila's shot.

The news that Northern Ireland and Denmark were drawing had meant that both Spain and Sweden were qualified for a short while, but Ireland's eventual victory changed the situation, and Spain needed to win to avoid any possible upset against the Irish in Las Palmas next Wednesday. Just to make sure they continued to push forward, Riera coming on and almost immediately hitting the side netting, and Joaquín and Xavi both bringing saves out of Isaksson.

Casillas was finally put under some pressure as Sweden tried for a consolation, but the Scandinavians' best chance came from a Källström free kick which deflected off the defensive wall over the top. They now need a point against Latvia in their last match to go through, but Spain can start to celebrate knowing that their place in Austria / Switzerland is assured.