Solid Mellberg helps Sweden sign off on high
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
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Sweden's defensive rock, Olof Mellberg, was magnificent at the heart of the defence as his side kept a clean sheet and beat France to end their UEFA EURO 2012 campaign on a high.
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A determined display from centre-back Olof Mellberg was integral to Sweden's resilient defensive performance as they kept France at bay and earned a 2-0 win to ensure they finished their UEFA EURO 2012 campaign on a high note.
Coming off the back of winning a league and cup double with his club Olympiacos FC, the defender has continued his fine form in Poland and Ukraine with his country. He was one of the top performers in the 3-2 defeat by England on matchday two and his rating of 9.64 in Sweden's swansong in Kyiv ensured he topped the Castrol EDGE Index against France.
The 34-year-old, winning his 117th cap, used all of his experience to frustrate France's livewire forwards, dominating in the air and making a host of important blocks. None of these was more vital than his incredible 77th-minute intervention, sliding in to deny Philippe Mexès a certain goal when the Frenchman collected Samir Nasri's squared pass just metres from the goal line.
Mellberg would have got his name on the scoresheet, too, were it not for the stunning reflexes of France No1 Hugo Lloris, who somehow clawed over the defender's flicked shot from a corner after a wicked bounce off the turf.
Team-mate Sebastian Larsson's energetic showing, capped by the second goal, earned him second spot on the Index, while France defender Mexès was rewarded for his efforts at both ends of the pitch with third place.
Castrol EDGE Index: Sweden v France
1. Olof Mellberg (SWE) 9.64
2. Sebastian Larsson (SWE) 9.51
3. Philippe Mexès (FRA) 8.97
4. Andreas Isaksson (SWE) 8.82
5. Franck Ribéry (FRA) 8.69
Key facts
4 – Sebastian Larsson became the fourth player to score and set up a goal in the same game at UEFA EURO 2012 (following David Silva, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Theo Walcott).
23 – France's incredible 23-game unbeaten run came to an end against Sweden.
6 – Zlatan Ibrahimović has now scored six goals at EURO finals; only France's Michel Platini (9) and England's Alan Shearer (7) have struck more.
1969 – Before this match, France were unbeaten in 11 encounters with Sweden, their last defeat coming in October 1969.
24 – France had 24 attempts at goal in this match – exactly double that of their opponents, Sweden. They managed just ten on target, however, compared to Sweden's seven.
