2012 UEFA Euro Cup Group D: Sweden 2-0 France

Thursday, June 21, 2012 Report by Rajarshi Ghosh

France will play Spain in the Euro 2012 quarter-finals after surrendering top spot in Group D to England by losing 2-0 against Sweden.

Sweden, who have already had their elimination confirmed after losing both of their games so far, frustrated the French side in the first half, with Ola Toivonen having two excellent chances to take the lead, but he failed to hit the target on both occasions.

France looked very flat in the first half, with Franck Ribery forcing Andreas Isaksson into his only save of the period, as they looked nothing like the attacking threat that they showed in the previous match.

After half-time it was Sweden who looked the better side and deservedly took the lead when Zlatan Ibrahimovic volleyed home superbly.

The French loss was confirmed when Sweden added a late second in injury time through Larsson who smashed a volley into an empty net after Wilhelmsson's initial effort hit the crossbar, giving the Swedes their first victory against France since 1969 and handing Blanc an unenviable quarter-final with Spain.