Sweden vs Paraguay

[Stoneburg]

SWE 1 - 0 PAR

Finally. Lagerbäck subbed Svensson for Källström and I think everyone who watched the game could see the difference he makes. Paraguay were confident before the game but right from the start Sweden were in control.

The first 15 minutes started at an unusually high pace. Normally Sweden will play long balls and extremely safe for the first 15 in order to "get into the game" but this time they started attacking immediatly.

Unlike the previous game the attacks were mixed. The defensive line played it sideways and up to the midfield rather than ineffectively kicking it long up the centre of the pitch. All the midfielders were allowed to participate in the buildup, although Källström was the predominant playmaker. Sweeping crosses to Ljungberg or Wilhelmsson, and through balls at the strikers. It's rare to see Sweden play such a good attacking footbal with dominant possession (60/40 in the first half).

Unfortunately the strikers couldn't capitalize. Zlatan is just in horrible form and didn't add a single positive thing to the game. Larsson had some good runs and a few shots but it was rare for him to get into a good scoring position.

In total we had a striker clear on goal three times and failed to score. Zlatan had an absolutely embarrasing finish when he kicked the grass more than the ball, and Allbäck who came on for him after half time was unfairly judged off side once and maaged to bungle up his finish the second time, allowing a defender to clear it on the goal line.

Paraguay have a decent defense and two good strikers but also show two massive weaknesses. Ther midfield leaves too much space when defending, and they NEVER attack down the flanks. All their attacks go through the middle, making it much easier to defend against them. Basically they will either try to pass/dribble their way through the middle, or they will cross the ball early either to Santacruz as a target player or for Valdez to run at.

After 75 minutes Sweden made some tactical changes. Källström and Wilhelmsson, who both had a good game but were tired, were replaced by Jonsson and Elmander to get some more energy onto the pitch. Ljungberg was moved in as central attacking midfielder and the other two took the flanks. A nice cross from Elmander was brilliantly headed back into the box onto a storming Ljungberg who placed it clinically into the net with a header(!!).

Very well deserved win for Sweden. Best players on the pitch were Källström and Ljungberg.

[mike_m235]

When Sweden scored, the Swedish fans reminded me of death row inmates who just found out that their execution had been cancelled. A lot of emotion there...very cool.

[Felonius_Monk]

Sweden and England are just waiting for the quarter finals. I don't think either are going to be going beyond that. I thought england had a chance for a while but I underestimated Eriksson's incompetence. For just a second there, I thought he might've been able to mold a 4 of the world's best midfielders into a force capable of breaking open a team of washed up nobodies and part-timers; it seems I overestimated the guy.

[mike_m235]

[Felonius_Monk]

Possibly. I don't see how rooney can possibly be match fit and 100% firing, having not played any competitive football for the last 8 weeks. Still, we'll see. I think on our day we can beat anyone but I can't see us stringing 3 or 4 "days" together to beat top-class teams and win the whole thing. With our current slow, ponderous build-up I can't see us scoring against a side like Italy. I think our defence looks pretty solid though (better when Nevile's back, he's a really under-rated player)...