SALZBURG, Austria, 11 June 2008 — Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his first international goal in almost three years yesterday to lead Sweden to a 2-0 win over defending champions Greece at the European Championship.
Ibrahimovic, set up by strike partner Henrik Larsson, scored in the 67th minute with a powerful shot from the edge of the penalty box. Greece goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis threw himself to the right and got a finger on the ball but it sailed into his upper right corner of the goal.
It was the Inter Milan striker’s first goal for Sweden since October 2005.
Central defender Petter Hansson doubled the lead in the 72nd, picking up a rebound off a shot from Fredrik Ljungberg and bundling his way past two defenders to roll the ball over the line.
The match got off to an uninspired start with both teams more concerned about keeping a tight defense than producing scoring opportunities.
For much of the first half, the defending champions just rolled the ball across their defensive line, drawing whistles from the Swedish section of the 30,000-seat Wals-Siezenheim stadium.
Ibrahimovic had Sweden’s best chance before halftime, heading the ball over the crossbar with his back toward the goal.
Sweden goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson easily stopped two attempts by Angelos Charisteas but struggled to clear a bouncing shot from Greece captain Angelos Basinas. The Greeks wasted a series of erratic high balls toward isolated striker Fanis Gekas, who was replaced at halftime by Georgios Samaras. Sweden coach Lars Lagerback fielded an experienced lineup, with seven starters older than 30, including Henrik Larsson and fullback Niclas Alexandersson, both 36.
Greece started with seven players from the winning Euro 2004 squad.
Sweden, in its fifth consecutive major championship, next plays Group D favorite Spain while Greece takes on Russia.
Spain crushed the Russians 4-1 earlier Tuesday after a hat trick by David Villa.
