Sweden 2
Ibrahimovic 54; Larsson 90;
France 0
France qualified for the knockout stages of a major finals for the first time in six years in Kiev yesterday despite losing their final Euro 2012 Group D match 2-0 to already eliminated Sweden.
A brilliant bicycle kick by Sweden’s inspirational captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the 54th minute gave them the lead with the outstanding Sebastian Larsson adding a second in the final minute of normal time.
It handed the Swedes not only their first points of the group stage but also their first win over France in almost 43 years dating back to October 1969.
The French, who also saw their 23-match unbeaten run ended, progress in second place in the group after England beat co-hosts Ukraine 1-0 in the other game to finish top.
France – who last reached the knockout stages of a major finals in the 2006 World Cup – will play champions Spain in the last eight.
The Swedes should have gone ahead in the eighth minute as Ola Toivonen – who had replaced the injured Johan Elmander up front – was played onside and with only Hugo Lloris to beat. However, although he rounded the goalkeeper he found the angle too tight and his shot hit the post.
The French pressed from the start of the second half with Karim Benzema finding some space and curling the ball just past the far post.
However, instead of sparking the French into some urgency it prompted the Swedes into their best period of play with Lloris pulling off one fine save in the 53rd minute.
A minute later he was unable to do anything about Ibrahimovic’s stunning bicycle kick from Larsson’s superb cross – Ibrahimovic in typical celebratory style standing stock still and raising his hands pointing a finger of each hand at the sky.
France were wilting in the heat of the night and would have been 2-0 down minutes later but Olof Mellberg’s header was tipped over the bar in extremis by Lloris.
Another of the Swedish veterans Christian Wilhelmsson – like Mellberg expected to retire from international football after this match – then went close himself but his shot too was turned away for a corner.
The French were defending with increasing desperation and it was no surprise that central defender Philippe Mexes picked up a booking for an overly physical challenge that rules him out of the quarter-final.
The Swedes pace slowed, though, and France began to have the lions share of possession which almsot bore fruit when Yann M’Vila – who had earned his first start of the tournament having recovered from an ankle injury – switched neatly from his left to right foot and fired a fierce shot just wide of the target.
Blanc decided to send on Jeremy Menez, one of the goalscorers from the 2-0 win over Ukraine, and it almost paid off as he managed to break free in the box – but his effort was bundled away for a corner.
Fellow substitute Olivier Giroud should have done better from the corner as he rose unmarked but his header went over the bar – and instead it was to be the Swedes who deservedly wrapped up victory through Larsson.
Aftermatch comments
Yann M’Vila (France): “We came upon a team that was far stronger than us.
“We are going to play Spain, the world and defending champions.
“It is up to us to show another side to our game and to prove that we can go far in this competition.”
Sweden
A. Isaksson, A. Granqvist, O. Mellberg, J. Olsson, M. Olsson, S. Larsson, A. Svensson (S. Holmen 78), Z. Ibrahimovic, K. Källström, E. Bajrami (C. Wilhelmsson 46), O. Toivonen (P. Wernbloom 78).
France
H. Lloris, M. Debuchy, A. Rami, P. Mexes, G. Clichy, S. Nasri (J. Menez 77), A. Diarra, Y. Mvila (O. Giroud 83), H. Ben Arfa (F. Malouda 59), K. Benzema, F. Ribery.
Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal).
Attendance: 63,000.
Day-to-day fixtures
Group A
» Poland » Greece » Russia » Czech Republic
Poland vs Greece - 1-1
Russia vs Czech Rep. - 4-1
Greece vs Czech Rep. - 1-2
Poland vs Russia - 1-1
Czech Rep. vs Poland - 1-0
Greece vs Russia - 1-0
Final standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Czech Rep. | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Greece | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Russia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| Poland | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Group B
» Holland » Denmark » Germany » Portugal
Holland vs Denmark - 0-1
Germany vs Portugal - 1-0
Denmark vs Portugal - 2-3
Holland vs Germany - 1-2
Portugal vs Holland - 2-1
Denmark vs Germany - 1-2
Final standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Germany | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 9 |
| Portugal | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Denmark | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| Holland | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
Group C
» Spain » Italy » Ireland » Croatia
Spain vs Italy - 1-1
Ireland vs Croatia - 1-3
Italy vs Croatia - 1-1
Spain vs Ireland - 4-0
Croatia vs Spain - 0-1
Italy vs Ireland - 2-0
Final standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Spain | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 7 |
| Italy | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 5 |
| Croatia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Ireland | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 0 |
Group D
» France » England » Ukraine » Sweden
France vs England - 1-1
Ukraine vs Sweden - 2-1
Ukraine vs France - 0-2
Sweden vs England - 2-3
England vs Ukraine - 1-0
Sweden vs France - 2-0
Final standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| England | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 7 |
| France | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Ukraine | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Sweden | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
Quarter-finals
| Quarter-final 1 | Thursday | Czech Republic vs Portugal | 20.45 |
| Quarter-final 2 | Friday | Germany vs Greece | 20.45 |
| Quarter-final 3 | Saturday | Spain vs France | 20.45 |
| Quarter-final 4 | Sunday | England vs Italy | 20.45 |
Semi-finals and final
| Semi-final 1 | June 27 | Winner Quarter-final 1 vs Winner Quarter-final 3 | 20.45 |
| Semi-final 2 | June 28 | Winner Quarter-final 2 vs Winner Quarter-final 4 | 20.45 |
| Final | July 1 | Winner Semi-final 1 vs Winner Semi-final 2 | 20.45 |