Euro 2012: Sweden 2-3 England – Wonderful Walcott Fires England To Victory (Photos & Highlights)

Alan Duffy

15th, June 2012

8 Comments

By Alan Duffy

England came from behind to defeat a so-so Swedish side in a victory that will both please and concern Roy Hodgson.

Andy Carroll opened the scoring for the Three Lions, silencing his critics (at least for a little bit) courtesy of a headed goal on 23 minutes. That strike put the English in the driving seat but two moments of dire defending saw veteran centre-half Olof Mellberg bag a brace after the break. Both goals from the former Villa defender came from free-kicks which were defended appallingly by England. Put it this way, if OAP Mellberg can score twice against you, you know you have problems at the back.

However, all was not lost for the Three Lions. The introduction of Theo Walcott on the hour-mark (for a mediocre James Milner) completely changed the game. The Arsenal man fired hom a superb swerving strike on 64 minutes before setting up Danny Welbeck’s clever winner 14 minutes later to seal a vital, if not entirely impressive win for Roy Hodgson’s men.

A draw against an average Ukrainian side will put the English through to knockout stages, with Walcott surely playing himself into a starting berth in that fixture. As for Sweden, they are out of the competition, after a disappointing opening two games.

Photos…

Highlights…

Photos: PA

Posted in Euro 2012, Photos, Videos

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8 Comments

  1. pray4muamba says:

    if milner starts next game i will be gutted

  2. Toz says:

    Milner has proven one thing in this Euro, he doesn’t deserve to start. First game he missed a sitter after rounding the keeper, in the second Sweden scores because of a moronic penalty he forced.

  3. Clarketa says:

    How are people seriously giving Welbeck credit for a “clever” finish and a “touch of class”?!?! He clearly tried to control the ball and he miscued and it hit off his heel and went in!

  4. Mayo says:

    ‘mediocre James Milner’ is my new favorite oxymoron

  5. ds says:

    @Mayo: you mean tautology, yes?

  6. Grant says:

    @ds actually you mean redundancy. Tautology is when you say the same thing literally twice. For example AZ Alkmaar, where the A in AZ is for Alkmaar.

  7. Swiss mafia says:

    @ Clarketa

    What game were you watching? He clearly did mean to do that. If you would have watched Wellbeck for Man U this year you would realize that he scored similar goals. Wellback has a great sense of touch for goals like this. But I can see how pessimistic people might think it was unintentional.
    For once England put in a good performance with some great goals. Let’s not take that ways form them.

  8. Uncle Rifle says:

    I have to say Wellbecks goal looked good, but still, it was a lucky punch. Nine times out of ten it wouldn’t go in. But he who dares, wins.
    Carrolls goal, on the other hand, was pure, distilled class. An oldschool centerforward-goal. Great timing in the jump, great physical strength, great timing, great power on the header, and great direction.
    Only Shevas first goal against Sweden comes close to being as classy a header.

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