Sweden denied the Netherlands a perfect qualification campaign for the European Championships in Solna on Tuesday. The hosts beat the vice World Champions 3-2 to secure a ticket for Euro 2012 as best number two behind the Dutch.
“It was a crazy match. Sweden is celebrating, the players are celebrating”, said Ola Toivonen overjoyed after the win.
The Swedish PSV-striker handed his country the victory, when he scored 3-2 in the 53rd minute. The Netherlands congratulated their opponents, but left the pitch a bit frustrated.
“We completely dominated the match. It’s disappointing to lose this way ”, Rafael van der Vaart said.
The Dutch saw most of the ball against a very defensive opponent, but they did not manage to create many scoring opportunities. Sweden did not mind the Dutch possession. Toivonen:
“When we played the Dutch in Amsterdam we played a more open game and we were slaughtered 4-1. We did not want to play that naïve again. We wanted them to have the ball. As long as they had possession in the midfield, we were fine.”
Sweden had hardly crossed the halfway line before Kim Källström took the ball for a free kick at 20 meters from the Dutch goal in the 14the minute, but the Olympique Lyon midfielder scored with a fast and precise shot in the upper corner. The Dutch did not seem to be bothered and continued their passing game, which resulted in the 1-1 in the 22nd minute.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar headed home an Erik Pieters cross from the left wing. It marked Huntelaar’s 30th international goal and he became the seventh Dutch player to reach this milestone. The Schalke 04 striker ended the 2012 qualifying campaign as top scorer with 12 goals. Only Davor Suker (12, 1996) and David Healy (13, 2008) recorded at least 12 goals in a single Euro qualifying campaign.
In the 50th minute Dirk Kuyt seemed to end all Swedish hopes when he headed home a rebound, when Robin van Persie did not manage to beat goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson to finish a off a beautiful Rafael van der Vaart pass.
However the 2-1 did not mark the end of Sweden’s dreams. Before the Dutch woke up from celebrating their goal Sweden was allowed a penalty kick because of a joris Mathijsen hand ball in the box. Sebastian Larsson converted the sport kick, which did not seem to wake up the Netherlands. One minute later the Dutch were caught sleeping again at a Swedish throw in. Johan Elmander’s deflected cross got to Toivonen, who did not hesitate to shoot: 3-2.
Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk blamed his players for sloppy defending:
“We dominated the game but we gave away three goals. This match proves how we have improved over the past years. The way they played against us, says a lot about our strength. Playing like this we would win this match 19 out of 20 times.”
The Swedish PSV-striker handed his country the victory, when he scored 3-2 in the 53rd minute. The Netherlands congratulated their opponents, but left the pitch a bit frustrated.
“We completely dominated the match. It’s disappointing to lose this way ”, Rafael van der Vaart said.
The Dutch saw most of the ball against a very defensive opponent, but they did not manage to create many scoring opportunities. Sweden did not mind the Dutch possession. Toivonen:
“When we played the Dutch in Amsterdam we played a more open game and we were slaughtered 4-1. We did not want to play that naïve again. We wanted them to have the ball. As long as they had possession in the midfield, we were fine.”
Sweden had hardly crossed the halfway line before Kim Källström took the ball for a free kick at 20 meters from the Dutch goal in the 14the minute, but the Olympique Lyon midfielder scored with a fast and precise shot in the upper corner. The Dutch did not seem to be bothered and continued their passing game, which resulted in the 1-1 in the 22nd minute.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar headed home an Erik Pieters cross from the left wing. It marked Huntelaar’s 30th international goal and he became the seventh Dutch player to reach this milestone. The Schalke 04 striker ended the 2012 qualifying campaign as top scorer with 12 goals. Only Davor Suker (12, 1996) and David Healy (13, 2008) recorded at least 12 goals in a single Euro qualifying campaign.
In the 50th minute Dirk Kuyt seemed to end all Swedish hopes when he headed home a rebound, when Robin van Persie did not manage to beat goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson to finish a off a beautiful Rafael van der Vaart pass.
However the 2-1 did not mark the end of Sweden’s dreams. Before the Dutch woke up from celebrating their goal Sweden was allowed a penalty kick because of a joris Mathijsen hand ball in the box. Sebastian Larsson converted the sport kick, which did not seem to wake up the Netherlands. One minute later the Dutch were caught sleeping again at a Swedish throw in. Johan Elmander’s deflected cross got to Toivonen, who did not hesitate to shoot: 3-2.
Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk blamed his players for sloppy defending:
“We dominated the game but we gave away three goals. This match proves how we have improved over the past years. The way they played against us, says a lot about our strength. Playing like this we would win this match 19 out of 20 times.”
