Days after Zlatan Ibrahimovic hinted that he may retire from global football if his national side lose to Denmark in their Euro 2016 play-off, the striker eased fears of a potential double blow for Sweden.
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Goals from Andriy Yarmolenko and Yevhen Seleznyov gave Ukraine the first-leg win ahead of Tuesday’s repeat encounter.
Ibrahimović has already scored 12 goals this campaign for club and country, and has been in phenomenal form in worldwide colours during qualifying, with eight goals in as many appearances during the group stage.
Denmark’s veteran coach Morten Olsen sought to check a now rampant Sweden by introducing Jorgensen and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in place of Kahlenberg and the ineffective Viktor Fischer.
“We won, but we were exhausted by the end”.
Jorgensen’s late goal rattled the Swedes and Denmark dominated the final 10 minutes without managing to find the equaliser.
“It’s always disappointing to concede a goal”, said Hamren. “Of course it would feel better if it had been 2-0 instead, but we have the tie in our hands now having won the “first half”. “We know it’s only halftime and…it’s going to be exciting on Tuesday”.
Emil Forsberg fired Sweden in front just before half-time when he swept in Mikael Lustig’s low cross.
Martin O’Neill’s Republic of Ireland will be bidding to carry on from where they left off in their 1-1 first leg draw away to Bosnia in Dublin on Monday as Hungary edged closer to their first worldwide tournament in 30 years when they defeated Norway 1-0 on Friday.
The visitors, bidding to repeat their Euro 2000 play-off victory over Ukraine, never looked like getting back into the game after the break.
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The RB Leipzig winger was brought down inside the Denmark penalty box just five minutes into the second half.
