Showing posts with label sweden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sweden. Show all posts

Monday, 4 June 2012

Final warm-ups for Euro 2012 trio World Soccer Shop




Ukraine meet Turkey in a Euro 2012 warm-up match in Ingolstadt on Tuesday, France host Estonia in Le Mans and Sweden face Serbia in Stockholm.





Shevchenko: Gearing up for Euro 2012


Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko believes the national team can go all the way to the final of Euro 2012 as they prepare for their last game before the tournament kicks off.


The 35-year-old has 107 international caps and is arguably the most well-known Ukrainian footballer of all time.


The final of the European Championships will be held at Kiev's Olympic Stadium on July 1, and Shevchenko reckons Oleh Blokhin's side can get there.


"If we show our quality and have a bit of luck, we can reach the final," he said. "I understand that will be extremely difficult, but you only get one chance to make history."


The former AC Milan and Chelsea forward revealed the thought of participating in a major European competition on home soil has kept him playing for longer than he expected - even if he now knows his own limitations.


He said: "For the last five years, I've hardly thought about anything but the European Championships that will be held in my country. It's fair to say this has extended my career. It's my dream.


"I need more time for rehabilitation. That's natural. If I'm not completely fit, I don't want to play and let down the fans. I want to do what's best for the side."


Turkey v Ukraine kicks off at 7pm BST at the Audi Sportpark in Ingolstadt.


France face Estonia in their final match before they open their tournament against England next Monday, but former Les Bleus star Christophe Dugarry believes manager and former team-mate Laurent Blanc has his work cut out to achieve success in Poland and Ukraine.


"Today picking the France team is still very complicated," the Euro 2000 winner told L'Equipe. "When you see who is absent, the players who had an average season and those few who have had a good season and are 100% mentally and physically - if there are 10, that is the maximum.


"Laurent Blanc, is a coach, not a magician - he does what he can."


Kick-off at the MMArena in Le Mans is at 8pm BST.


Meanwhile, France's Group D opponents Sweden host Serbia in their final warm-up game and head coach Erik Hamren has claimed a number of his squad are struggling with fatigue.


"Swedish football should stop and think if what they are doing is the right thing," he said.


"And if this is the way you want to run things, then you are giving your players very little chance to win. This, for me as national-team coach, is unacceptable."


Sweden's national league runs between March and November and therefore will take a break for the duration of the Championships.


Their talismanic captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic has claimed winning the tournament would eclipse anything he achieves with club side AC Milan.


He said: "For me, perhaps, winning the European Championship would be of more value than all the titles I have won to date."


"Winning with one's own country is special. It is an honour to play for one's national team. It would be fantastic to win with this shirt and then return home to celebrate with the fans."


Kick-off at the Rasunda Stadium is at 6pm BST.


Elsewhere, Austria host Romania and Kazakhstan travel to Armenia.




Source : http://soccer365.com//news/european_news/general/17758/final_warm_ups_for_euro_2012_trio

Wednesday, 30 May 2012

Ibrahimovic helps Sweden to win World Soccer Shop




Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a fantastic opening goal and set up the second as Sweden beat Iceland 3-2 in their first Euro 2012 warm-up match.





Ibrahimovic: Scored one, created another for Sweden


The AC Milan striker broke the deadlock in the second minute before teeing up Ola Toivonen 12 minutes later at the Gamla Ullevi in Gothenburg.


Kolbeinn Sigthorsson narrowed the deficit in the 27th minute and although Christian Wilhelmsson restored the two-goal advantage, Hallgrimur Jonasson's stoppage-time strike ensured a nervy finale.


Victory over former national team manager Lars Lagerback's men was Sweden's first of two warm-up matches before they begin their European Championship campaign against co-hosts Ukraine on June 11 in Kiev's Olympic Stadium.


They made a strong start this evening, Ibrahimovic firing them into an early lead with a stunning low volley from Sebastian Larsson's right-wing cross.


Ibrahimovic's cross from the left side of the penalty area then allowed fellow striker Toivonen a close range finish.


Sweden, who also play England and France in Group D, looked to be on their way to a convincing win but they were pegged back when Sigthorsson headed home Ari Freyr Skulason's cross from the left.


Wilhelmsson then volleyed past Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Thor Halldorsson with 13 minutes remaining as Sweden looked to have wrapped up victory.


But Iceland, who took a two-goal lead against France at the weekend before going down 3-2, refused to lie down.


Jonasson converted Johann Berg Gudmundsson's corner but the strike was too little, too late.




Source : http://soccer365.com//news/european_news/general/17482/ibrahimovic_helps_sweden_to_win

Tuesday, 22 May 2012

Successful knee surgery for Wilshere




Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere had surgery on his left knee in Sweden on Tuesday, with the club confirming the operation was a success.


The 20-year-old will return to England to continue his rehabilitation with the


English Premier League side, and is expected to be training before the start of


next season.


Wilshere established himself as a key member of Arsene Wenger’s side during the


2010/11 campaign, scoring three times in 49 appearances.


However, he missed the whole of the following season with an injury to his


right ankle and suffered a number of setbacks.


Wilshere’s chances of featuring in England’s Euro 2012 squad or Team GB’s


Olympic squad were dashed by his injury setbacks.




Source : http://www.soccernews.com/successful-knee-surgery-for-wilshere/95104/