Euro 2008

Group D matches

Spain 2 - Sweden 1

Spain: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Puyol (Raúl Albiol 24'), Marchena, Capdevila; Iniesta (Cazorla 59'), Marcos Senna Xavi (Fábregas 59'), David Silva; David Villa, Fernando Torres. 4-4-2.
Sweden: Isaksson; Stoor, Mellberg, Hansson, Nilsson; Elmander (Sebastian Larsson 79'), Andersson, Svensson, Ljungberg; Ibrahimovic (Rosenberg 46'), Henrik Larsson (Källström 86'). 4-4-2.

Goals:
1-0. 15. Fernando Torres. Stuck out foot to poke Silva cross inside near post.
1-1. 34. Ibrahimovic. Collected Stoor cross, rounded Ramos and shot low into net.
2-1. 92. Villa. Ran on to long Capdevila clearance and ran past Hansson to score.

An injury time goal from David Villa gave Spain a belaboured 2-1 win over Sweden in their second group match. Luis Aragonés started with the line-up which beat Russia so easily, and within a quarter of an hour they were ahead, Fernando Torres sticking out a foot to poke David Silva's cross inside the near post. But soon afterwards they lost Puyol to an injury, and after Henrik Larsson had fired a shot over the bar, Ibrahimovic controlled a long cross from Stoor and turned past Sergio Ramos to force a low shot past Casillas.

Spain were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty on the stroke of half time when Elmander barged in to Silva, and a few minutes in to the second half Silva, Villa and Torres all had efforts blocked by Isaksson and his defence in quick succession. Senna and Torres both had long shots saved by the keeper, but Sweden themselves had a couple of chances, Hansson turning a free kick across the front of goal and Ljungberg firing a shot over the bar.

The game appeared to be heading for a draw though until Villa ran on to a long clearance from Capdevila to cut between Hansson and Mellberg and steer a shot wide of Isaksson, his fourth goal of the tournament. It was enough to give Spain a second victory in a row, and Russia's win over Greece later in the evening meant that they are sure of finishing top of their group, their last match against the already eliminated reigning champions a mere formality. Another great result, but Aragonés is the first to admit that they still have a long way to go.