Spain, Sweden eye Euro 2008 quarter-final
Sunday, 15 June 2008
INNSBRUCK, Austria, June 14 (AFP): Either Spain or Sweden could wrap up a place in the Euro 2008 quarter-finals if they emerge triumphant from the pair's Group D meeting here Saturday.
Both won their opening matches with Spain particularly impressive in dismantling Russia 4-1 while Sweden defeated the holders Greece 2-0.
Those results put the pair in pole position to qualify from the group and a victory for either one on Saturday would virtually assure their progress to the next stage.
And while Sweden were gritty and controlled in breaking down the negative Greeks, thanks in no small part to the continued brilliance of veteran forward Henrik Larsson and a moment of magic from Inter Milan star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Spain sizzled in their destruction of Guus Hiddink's Russia.
It has all left the coach of the perennial underachievers feeling boisterous as Spain go in search of their first international title in 44 years.
"My only desire is to win as many matches for Spain as possible and because my life view is that the glass is always half full, not half empty, I neither get carried away with victory nor does defeat destroy me," said Luis Aragones.
Both won their opening matches with Spain particularly impressive in dismantling Russia 4-1 while Sweden defeated the holders Greece 2-0.
Those results put the pair in pole position to qualify from the group and a victory for either one on Saturday would virtually assure their progress to the next stage.
And while Sweden were gritty and controlled in breaking down the negative Greeks, thanks in no small part to the continued brilliance of veteran forward Henrik Larsson and a moment of magic from Inter Milan star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Spain sizzled in their destruction of Guus Hiddink's Russia.
It has all left the coach of the perennial underachievers feeling boisterous as Spain go in search of their first international title in 44 years.
"My only desire is to win as many matches for Spain as possible and because my life view is that the glass is always half full, not half empty, I neither get carried away with victory nor does defeat destroy me," said Luis Aragones.