Sweden Ease Past Scotland In Stockholm [Match Report]

Scotland's preparation for the Euro 2012 qualifications took a blow this evening as they succumed to a 3-0 defeat at the Rasunda Stadium in Stockholm.

Allan McGregor looks on after a tough night in Stockholm

Their opponents Sweden were two goals ahead at half time thanks to strikes from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Emir Bajrami. Sweden then disposed of the away side with a third goal, courtesy of some slack Scotland defending and a composed header from Ola Toivonen.

The game began with a few minutes of pretty passing before Sweden stepped up a gear with some great build up play down the right wing and a sweet cut back from midfielder Pontus Wernbloom found the unmarked Ibrahimovic who slotted home from six yards.

Scoland could have been another goal down minutes later as Toivonen shot from outside the box and despite Allan McGregor spilling the ball, he made a fantastic reaction save from Johan Elmander's rebound.

Scotland's first real opportunity came on the 28^th minute when a James McFadden cross wasn't dealt with by Sweden keeper' Andreas Isaksson but Charlie Adam couldn't quite stretch far enough to prod the ball goalwards.

However, it wasn't long before Sweden doubled their advantage, as Bajrami sealed his first international goal. Anders Svensson threaded a delightful ball through the Scotland defence to Bajrami and although his left footed effort was saved by McGregor, his right footed rebound zipped into the top corner of the net.

The second half started the same way as the first ended, with Sweden still looking very comfortable. Olof Mellberg clipped the bar with a long range effort on the 50^th minute before Sweden finished off their opponents five minutes later. Substitute Kim Kallstrom played a cross into the centre of the box and the unmarked Toivonen cooly headed past the helpless McGregor.

Despite the match over as a contest Scotland did manage to create one good opportunity on the 66^th minute as Darren Fletcher dinked a neat ball over the top of the Swedish defence which substitute Kris Boyd met with a left foot volley, only to see Sweden goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson make a great save with his left leg.

Garry Kenneth had found himself earning his first Scotland cap this evening because of numerous Scotland injuries and the Dundee United stopper had Sweden worried on the 70^th minute as he headed a strong effort from a Barry Robson corner, but Isaksson was there to make the save.

The match began to peter out, although Sweden could have scored a couple more goals if it wasn't for McGregor inbetween the Scotland posts. Toivonen and substitute Marcus Berg both found themselves clean through on goal in the final ten mintues, but each time McGregor spread himself big and saved Scotland from further blushes.

It was a comfortable victory for the Swedes as they looked a class above the injury-hit Scotland squad, who looked vulnerable every time the home side pressed forward. Craig Levein has his work cut out for him as he prepares for Scotland's first Euro 2012 qualifier against Lithuania on Friday 3^rd September.

Sweden v Scotland [Preview]

Click here or read below for my preview of the International Challenge fixture between Sweden and Scotland which is due to take place on Wednesday 11th August at 19:00 BST. The article was published on Pie & Bovril.

Scotland travelled to Stockholm on Monday afternoon to prepare for their challenge match against Sweden which will kick off at 19:00 BST on Wednesday evening at the Rasunda Stadium. It will be the first meeting between the two sides since a 2004 friendly where Sweden hammered a mostly second string Scotland side 4-1 at Easter Road. The only Scotland players who featured on that cold November evening who have made Craig Levein's squad this time around, are James McFadden and Kenny Miller although David Marshall would have been another if he hadn't have pulled out with an elbow injury on Monday morning.

Other than Marshall, the other notable absentees from Levein's squad are Lee McCulloch, Alan Hutton, Andy Webster, Craig Gordon and Gary Caldwell, who were already injured before Levein picked his side. Marshall and Graham Dorrans pulled out on Monday morning but Middlesbrough quartet Kris Boyd, Stephen McManus, Barry Robson and Kevin Thomson haven't withdrawn due to Levein standing firm to Boro manager Gordon Strachan, who asked for all four players to stay in England so they were available for his side's clash against Chesterfield on Tuesday.

Sweden on the other hand are looking quite strong. They are delighted that their captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic has overturned his decision to retire from international  football after the 28-year-old and his team-mates failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. However, Ibrahimovic is not the only talent in Sweden squad. Manager Erik Hamren also has goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson, Olof Mellberg and a string of England-based players at his disposal, such as Birmingham City's Sebastian Larsson, Bolton Wanderer's Johan Elmander and also relative international newcomer Martin Olsson, who plies his trade at Blackburn Rovers. There is little doubt though, that Barcelona forward Ibrahimovic is the biggest threat to Scotland.

This is only Craig Levein's second match in charge of Scotland and he'll be looking for some positive signs as this is the final chance to look at his squad before the first 2012 European Championship qualifier against Lithuania on September 3rd.

Meanwhile, this will be Hamren's seventh game in charge of Sweden as he seeks to lift his nation after narrowly missing out on qualification to the 2010 World Cup by one point to Portugal.

It'll be a tough game for Scotland, especially with a slightly depleted squad, but as always it's an opportunity for fringe players to stake a claim for the first team places.