Sweden Vs. England: Danny Welbeck Stuns Sweden

That the goal allowed England to overcome a 2-1 deficit and put them in position to advance to the quarterfinals with nothing more than a tie against Ukraine in their final group-stage match just ends up being the cherry on top. It also ended up being the play that was the nail in the coffin of Sweden’s chances. The culmination of all these things are what turn youngsters like Welbeck into celebrities almost over night.

As bad as England has been protecting leads, though, Sweden have been worse. They blew a lead in their opener against Ukraine and did it again against England. First, Walcott hit a great shot from more than 20 yards that left Andreas Isaakson stunned. While Isaakson was frozen, the ball flew past him for the equalizer and England were alive again.

But Walcott’s equalizer couldn’t touch Welbeck’s winner. Walcott started the play, getting through the middle of the Sweden defense before cutting out a bit towards the right and crossing just before getting to the end line. It was a fine bit of play, but the cross was behind Welbeck. Apparently Welbeck didn’t care, turning and hitting a great spitting beck heel volley to find the net and deliver England a 3-2 win.

Walcott broke through the middle, leaving defenders in his wake left and right before cutting out a bit. He was right of the goal on the way to the end line when he was able to turn the ball back towards the middle. The problem was that his cross was behind Welbeck, the only player for England in the middle.

It wasn’t a problem for Welbeck, though. He hit a spinning, back heel something or other of incredibleness to turn it into the side netting and give England a 3-2 lead. Brilliant from Welbeck, brilliant from Walcott and if not brilliant from Hodgson, he sure looks it.

* Are your pants on fire?

Of all the players to hit a long range rocket, it was Walcott. A header was only clear as far as Walcott, who took a touch then ripped a heck of a shot to get Englad level with Sweden, 2-2. Andreas Isaaksson did help Walcott out by failing to track the ball through traffic or simply being fooled, but he was dumbfounded and probably will feel as if he should have saved the shot. Still, it was a great goal for the English, who looked down and out, but now are equal with a chance to even get three points.

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In any event, that’s exactly how England have taken the lead against Sweden. It’s been an even first half for the most part, but the Three Lions have come up with the only truly great chance of the match so far in very English fashion. Gerrard put in a diagonal ball from the right flank that looked like it was more speculative than anything, but Carroll made the perfect run and got between Sweden’s two center backs before rising up and powering a spectacular header past Andreas Isaksson.

This is essentially what everyone has been waiting for since January of 2011. It’ll be interesting to see if Sweden have an answer.

Interestingly, Swedes have packed the stadium and outnumbered the English fans. England always have the most support (aside from home countries, of course), but the Swedes have beaten them this time around. They have poured into Ukraine in massive numbers and have the Olympic Stadium looking very, very yellow. The English are still plenty loud, though, and the competing singing of the yellow-clad Swedish and white-clad English (even though the England team is actually wearing some gray looking shirt) is making for a tremendous atmosphere.

It’s loud, it’s fun and there is a lot on the line. We might even get some goals. This should be fun, or the worst. Who nows anymore with England, but there is Zlatan! All hail Zlatan.

This is old school football! Both teams are going 4-4-2 with two big strikers. We can expect a lot of booting it forward and big forwards jumping to win the ball from big defenders. If you don’t like modern day football then you wouldn’t be watching the Euros, but if you’re that guy who is stubborn enough to watch it anyways just so you can complain about it, you will like this match.

Meanwhile, Sweden will just hope to get enough support somewhere for Zlatan Ibrahimovic. It doesn’t need to be a lot, just enough.

UEFA couldn’t be having that (it’s bad for television to have two games going simultaneously), and therefore kickoff in England vs. Sweden has been pushed back fifteen minutes to the top of the hour. That game will now begin at 3:00 PM EDT (10:00 PM local). Don’t worry, though - you’ll still get your full allocation of Zlatan. Hopefully nobody does a rain dance in Kiev or anything.

Sweden and England is going to be a booooooore. On one side you have a Swedish midfield that couldn’t put much together last match and on the other you have an English team that doesn’t even pretend that they are trying to be creative. That’s not a knock on England or a cry of “anti-football, they are ruining the game and don’t know the right way to play” because it is fine and what they have to do to win. But nobody has to get excited for it. The Swedes have Zlatan Ibrahimovic though!

Lines: England, -1/2 (+115). Sweden, +1/2 (-135).