Belgium recorded a 2-0 win over Sweden in Stockholm on Sunday in their penultimate pre-World Cup friendly. The Red Devils didn't look their best, with some occasionally shaky defense and a not quite free-flowing attack. However, goals from Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard ensured they picked up a confidence-boosting victory ahead of their final friendly with Tunisia next weekend.
Sweden vs. Belgium: Final score 0-2, ruthless Red Devils win in Stockholm
Belgium didn’t look quite at their best in their friendly with Sweden on Sunday, but still ran out 2-0 winners.
Mike Hewitt
Sweden surprisingly made the better start to the match, with Belgium's narrow defensive shape allowing them to deliver a couple of threatening crosses in the opening few minutes. However, Belgium remained a constant threat on the counter-attack, with Kevin De Bruyne keeping Sweden on their guard by curling the ball against the crossbar after some 15 minutes.
Even so, the Red Devils looked surprisingly innocuous in attack, despite coach Marc Wilmots switching wingers Dries Mertens and Eden Hazard in a bid to liven things up. When they did manage to break the deadlock 10 minutes before halftime, it wasn’t the result of any great attacking invention, but a kindly pre-World Cup gift from their Swedish hosts. A silly giveaway on defense allowed Romelu Lukaku to charge towards goal at full tilt and stroke the ball past Andreas Isaksson from the edge of the box.
Coming off a pretty impressive half, Sweden almost crumbled after they conceded the first goal. Only a great save at the near post from Isaksson prevented center back Daniel van Buyten from extending the lead on a deep cross. At the other end, Ola Toivonen nearly got on the end of Jimmy Durmaz’s delivery, but he wasn’t quite tall enough to test Thibaut Courtois. The result was that after a fairly underwhelming half, Belgium led at the break.
Unfortunately, things didn’t get much more exciting after halftime, with Belgium still looking fairly uninspired and allowing Sweden to seize control. However, Erik Hamrén’s side couldn’t convert their possessions into many chances, going closest when Erkan Zengin’s effort cracked off the woodwork with just over 20 minutes remaining. Eventually, as in the first half, they were punished.
A quiet Hazard suddenly sprung to life with little over 10 minutes to play, bursting forward from the halfway line and interchanging with De Bruyne en route to burying the ball in Isaksson’s bottom corner. Sweden will probably feel aggrieved to have lost by two goals, despite De Bruyne squandering a late chance of his own, though Belgium demonstrated a dangerous ruthlessness, taking their chances despite not creating many of them. Ominous indeed.
Sweden: Isaksson; P. Bengtsson, Antonsson (R. Bengtsson 62’), Granqvist, Lustig (Johansson 84’); Durmaz, Källström (Wernbloom 46’), Larsson; Zengin (Berg 72’), Toivonen (Hiljemark 80’), Hysén (Elmander 72’).
Goals: None.
Belgium: Courtois; Vermaelen, Kompany, van Buyten, Alderweireld; Dembélé, Witsel; Hazard (Fellaini 80’), De Bruyne, Mertens (Chadli 68’); Lukaku (Origi 74’).
Goals: Lukaku (34’), Hazard (78’).
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