June 19, 2008

RUSSIA beat Sweden 2-0 in their Euro 2008 Group D match to reach the quarter-finals at the expense of their opponents.

Roman Pavlyuchenko scored in the 24th minute, for his second of the tournament, and Russian player of the year Andrei Arshavin added a second in the 50th minute to seal victory.

Russia progress to their first knockout stages of a major tournament since the break up of the Soviet Union in 1991, and will play the Netherlands in the quarter-final in Basel, Switzerland, on Sunday (EST) - a repeat to a certain extent of the 1988 final when present Holland coach Marco van Basten scored in the 2-0 victory over the Soviets.

Sweden coach Lars Lagerback was gracious in defeat and warned Holland that they shouldn't take their quarter-final opponents for granted.

"I would like to congratulate the Russians, who really play joyful football,'' said the soon to be 60-year-old veteran handler.

"I think they saw rapidly where they could hurt us and they exploited our weaknesses perfectly.

“To concede two goals is not a disaster!

“We just don't have the same concept of the style of playing football.

“I am very sad, because we haven't been knocked out of the first round of a finals since Euro 2000.

“I am very disappointed by our inability to turn the match around.

“But that is football, sometimes you lose.

“It is, however, important to congratulate the Russian team, they were the better side today.

“They really are a very good team, and the 4-1 defeat by Spain in their opening match didn't reflect their real quality. They are very strong.''

Russia are also coached by a Dutchman in Guus Hiddink, the former Australia coach who took the Netherlands to the 1998 World Cup semi-finals.

Russia produced their usual flowing football in the early stages with playmaker Arshavin - coming back after a two match suspension - pulling the strings, and the unimaginative Swedes, who did start with star striker Zlatan Irahimovic despite his knee problem, content to sit back on the whole.

It was Russia who went closest to opening the scoring in the 20th minute as Yuri Zhirkov unleashed a fierce volley from the left side of the penalty box which just crept past the far post of the Swedes, Arshavin having provoked the corner with a cheeky chip which forced Andreas Isaakson into a tip over.

However, they got a deserved lead in the 24th minute as Pavlyuchenko tucked away a finely made goal, having been set up by Zenit St-Petersburg's rampaging full-back Alexander Anyukov.

Sweden hit back almost immediately as veteran striker Henrik Larsson got on the end of a long ball and his header clipped the bar much to the relief of Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev.

Russia were playing the most delightful football, some of the best of the tournament, and in the 36th minute they went desperately close to doubling their lead as the redoubtable Pavlyuchenko was fed inside the box and his chip beat Isaakson only to clip the post.

The ball was crossed in again and Zhirkov fired fiercely on target only for Isaakson to produce a marvellous tip away save to leave it at that point the Russians having had 13 shots to the Swedes three.

Sweden, though, could not be discounted and captain Freddi Ljungberg forced Akineev into a scrambled save in the 44th minute but the Swedes failed to take advantage of the corner.

Russia at last made their overwhelming superiority tell in the 50th minute as Arshavin scored their second, the 'little jewel' as he is fondly called, sliding the ball home after another glorious team move with the Zenit St Petersburg star at the end of Zhirkov's pass.

Sweden were toothless up front, with Ibrahimovic clearly labouring and it was Russia who should have gone 3-0 up 10 minutes from time as Konstantin Zyryanov's shot was deflected onto the post and thence to safety.

Then, as Sweden pressed forward in desperate search of a goal Pavlyuchenko had two glorious chances to add to the Russia tally but first miskicked and then seconds later directed his header into Isaakson's welcoming hands.

Lagerback, whose conservative tactics have served Sweden well but were exposed by the more adventurous approach by Russia's Dutch handler Guus Hiddink, rejected the theory that he should have selected a younger side for the match than including grizzled veterans like 36-year-old Henrik Larsson.

“We didn't lose because we had physical problems but because Russia were better than us,'' Lagerback said.

“A new generation is already on the way, but I always said it was necessary to take the best players and not simply based on age.

“The question of age, of experience, is simply not interesting, what counts is the quality of the players.

“Now we must recharge the batteries for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.''

Lagerback will certainly be able to count on the services of the seemingly ageless Larsson, who said he had no intention of retiring.

“No, its not the last time you will see me in a Sweden shirt,'' he said. “Yes I can go on till the 2010 World Cup finals but there are still the qualifiers to go.''