Record breaking Anders helps slaughter Finns...

[david in sweden]

Sweden celebrated their National Day one day late when they comprehensively destroyed Finland by 5-0 in the Euro Qual. match against the "old enemy". So often disgraced by the Finns in Ice Hockey, the " new look " Swedish side under manager Erik Hamren took the game to the Finns and went 1-0 up when Kim Källströms 40 yard free kick eluded everyone in the penalty area and sneaked in at the far post, and the Swedes never looked back.

Milan-based Zlatan Imbrahimovic started on the bench after trying to shake off an injury, came on after after 25 mins. when Toivanen was injured, and quickly scored twice in four minutes with two clinical finishes. HT 3-0 .

 

Finland had no answer to the wide attacks from the " Premiership Swedes " Sebastian Larsson and Johan Elmander and went further behind when another long Källström freekick found Zlatan at the far post to nod past the luckless Finnish goalie for his hat-trick goal, and he might have had a couple more when his 35 yard freekick missed the far post by inches and he was denied a good penalty shout later on.

 

34 years young captain Anders Svensson equalled Roland Nilsson's 116 cap record and looked as fit as anyone on the pitch is once again a key player, after being written off by the media hacks after Sweden's fiasco World Cup 2010 in Germany.

Anders looked quick and his pin-point passing opened up the Finnish defence time and time again, as he looked good enough to go on and attack former goalie Thomas Ravelli's all- time record of 143 internationals.

 

The Swedes added insult to injury in the last 10 minutes when they scored their 5th goal, with lively midfielder Emil Bejrami running onto a left-wing pass from Zlatan and chipped the advancing keeper. A thoroughly entertaining end-to-end game in which Finland might have scored especially through the lively MIchael Forsell (former Prem.) with Brum.

 

Sweden's 3 points and the 5 plus goals makes them favourites to qualify behind the unbeaten Dutch side who lead the group.

Edited 7 June, 2011 by david in sweden

[Rory]

Anders may not have set the world alight during his time here, but he was still one of my favourite players and brought a smidgen of glamour to St Mary's. I don't think Costa Coffee's West Quay branch has ever recovered from his departure.

 

Glad to read he's still doing well.