Sweden start 2011 with Moldova tie
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Article summary
Sweden will look to keep pace with Group E leaders the Netherlands and Hungary as they play host to Moldova in their first UEFA EURO 2012 qualifier of the year.
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Article body
Sweden will look to keep pace with Group E leaders the Netherlands and Hungary as they play host to Moldova in their first UEFA EURO 2012 qualifier of the year.
Match background
• The nations have met twice before, in 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifying, with Sweden winning both fixtures without conceding.
• Marcus Allbäck scored two late goals as Sweden won their first meeting 2-0 in Chisinau on 28 March 2001 – nine years and a day before this latest encounter.
• The return fixture in Gothenburg on 6 June 2001 ended in a 6-0 win for the hosts; Henrik Larsson hit a hat-trick, Niclas Alexandersson and Allbäck struck to make it 5-0 and then Larsson added his fourth of the game.
• It was the only occasion in his career that Larsson scored four goals in an international game for club or country.
• Sweden and Moldova are level on six points, but Sweden have a game in hand.