England end 43-year wait for win over Sweden
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China Daily, November 16, 2011
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England's Gareth Barry (R) heads the ball to score during their international friendly soccer match against Sweden at Wembley Stadium in London, November 15, 2011. Sweden's Daniel Majstorovic was awarded with the own goal. [Photo/Agencies] |
An own goal by Daniel Majstorovic helped England end a 43-year wait for a win over Sweden with a 1-0 triumph over their fellow Euro 2012 finalists in a friendly at Wembley on Tuesday.
Fabio Capello became the first manager to guide England to victory over their jinx team since Alf Ramsey in 1968.
The 22nd-minute goal by the Swedish defender was also England's 2,000th since they began playing internationals in 1872.
The unlucky Majstorovic deflected a header from Gareth Barry past goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson following a left-wing cross from Stewart Downing.
"We've shown in the last couple of games we can compete with the very best," England captain John Terry told ITV Sport. "If we can continue this momentum for the next six months hopefully things will be a lot better."
Capello made eight changes to the team that beat world champions Spain 1-0 in another friendly on Saturday.
Jack Rodwell, Kyle Walker and Bobby Zamora made their first starts for England and Daniel Sturridge came on as a 58th-minute substitute to win his first cap.
Despite their international inexperience, the home side dominated for long periods and could easily have won by a bigger margin.
Sweden would have had no complaints if they had been 3-0 down at the interval.
Erik Hamren's men, who also lost 2-0 to Denmark in a friendly on Friday, again looked lethargic and the closest they came to scoring was when Johan Elmander headed wide from a Kim Kallstrom corner after 33 minutes.
They did little else to trouble the England defence with captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic anonymous in a withdrawn role up front and it was no surprise when he was replaced at halftime.
England, after a relatively slow start, were much more dangerous with Walker and Theo Walcott combining well on the right and Leighton Baines and Downing doing likewise on the left.
Holding midfielder Phil Jones enabled Barry and Rodwell to push forward, a tactic that led to the goal.
Jones, winning his third cap, was unlucky not to score his first goal after 40 minutes when he pounced on a loose ball just inside the Sweden half and ran 40 metres before slicing his shot narrowly wide of Isaksson's left-hand post.
Four minutes later Rodwell was guilty of a worse miss when his header hit the outside of the same post when it looked easier to score.
Chelsea skipper Terry, the subject of police and FA investigations over alleged racist abuse directed at Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand, was back in the England side after missing the game against Spain.
"I would never step down (as England captain)," said Terry. "It's something I've dreamed of since I was a boy, when I was four, five years old.
"I've worked very hard to get here, I'm very passionate and I'm very confident being the England captain. I'm very proud to walk the side out."
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