Lagerback lauds Ibrahimovic goal
Thursday, 12 June 2008
Sweden manager Lars Lagerback lavished praise on Zlatan Ibrahimovic after his stunning goal broke the deadlock in the 2-0 Euro 2008 Group D win over Greece, reports BBC.
After 67 turgid minutes Ibrahimovic hit a 25-yard drive into the top corner, before Petter Hansson wrapped it up.
Lagerback said: "It was very good play before and the conclusion was world class. It was very beautiful.
"The players did an excellent job - it's obvious that Greece are a very difficult team to play against."
Prior to the game Lagerback had warned his side that Greece would prove a tough team to overcome.
"Physically they work very hard, they move their line forward and we worked hard on that," said Lagerback.
It was a difficult game... but a fantastic feeling when the ball went in.
"It's fantastic to win, particularly with the way we played, it was a 100% deserved victory.
"We knew they might play up to five defenders and they would have man-markers.
"It's tough to face them because they are physically strong. I'm not surprised they had one marker on Zlatan."
Ibrahimovic, who had gone 14 internationals without scoring prior to his stunning goal, praised his team-mates for grinding out a victory.
"It was a difficult game and we did a fantastic job," said the Inter Milan forward after scoring his first international goal since 2005.
"I saw the opening to the left and that's where I put it. It was a fantastic feeling when the ball went in.
"We worked and were intelligent with our passes. We didn't let them play their own game and pressed them.
Meanwhile, Lagerback believes midfielder Christian Wilhelmsson will struggle to play in their last two group games after he limped off with a leg injury.
Greece: Nikopolidis, Seitaridis, Kyrgiakos, Antzas, Dellas (Amanatidis 70), Torosidis, Charisteas, Basinas, Katsouranis, Karagounis, Gekas (Samaras 46).
Sweden: Isaksson, Alexandersson (Stoor 74), Mellberg, Hansson, Nilsson, Wilhelmsson (Rosenberg 78), Svensson, Ljungberg, Andersson, Ibrahimovic (Elmander 71), Henrik Larsson.
Goals: Ibrahimovic 67, Hansson 73.
After 67 turgid minutes Ibrahimovic hit a 25-yard drive into the top corner, before Petter Hansson wrapped it up.
Lagerback said: "It was very good play before and the conclusion was world class. It was very beautiful.
"The players did an excellent job - it's obvious that Greece are a very difficult team to play against."
Prior to the game Lagerback had warned his side that Greece would prove a tough team to overcome.
"Physically they work very hard, they move their line forward and we worked hard on that," said Lagerback.
It was a difficult game... but a fantastic feeling when the ball went in.
"It's fantastic to win, particularly with the way we played, it was a 100% deserved victory.
"We knew they might play up to five defenders and they would have man-markers.
"It's tough to face them because they are physically strong. I'm not surprised they had one marker on Zlatan."
Ibrahimovic, who had gone 14 internationals without scoring prior to his stunning goal, praised his team-mates for grinding out a victory.
"It was a difficult game and we did a fantastic job," said the Inter Milan forward after scoring his first international goal since 2005.
"I saw the opening to the left and that's where I put it. It was a fantastic feeling when the ball went in.
"We worked and were intelligent with our passes. We didn't let them play their own game and pressed them.
Meanwhile, Lagerback believes midfielder Christian Wilhelmsson will struggle to play in their last two group games after he limped off with a leg injury.
Greece: Nikopolidis, Seitaridis, Kyrgiakos, Antzas, Dellas (Amanatidis 70), Torosidis, Charisteas, Basinas, Katsouranis, Karagounis, Gekas (Samaras 46).
Sweden: Isaksson, Alexandersson (Stoor 74), Mellberg, Hansson, Nilsson, Wilhelmsson (Rosenberg 78), Svensson, Ljungberg, Andersson, Ibrahimovic (Elmander 71), Henrik Larsson.
Goals: Ibrahimovic 67, Hansson 73.