A late goal by Premier League target Radja Nainggolan earned Belgium a last-16 berth with a 1-0 win over Sweden making superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic end his worldwide career with a defeat.
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However, he was unable to add to his tally in France as Sweden bowed out of the tournament on Wednesday with 1-0 defeat to Belgium.
There was to be no salvation for Sweden, nor one more game for Ibrahimovic.
Belgium progress to the knockout phase for the first time since EURO 1980, when they qualified for the final (2-1 defeat against West Germany) as group winners.
Sweden’s forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic acknowledges the crowd after Sweden lost 0-1 in the Euro 201 …
Ireland is headed to the European Championship round of 16 for the first time after beating Group E victor Italy 1-0 here on Wednesday to end the group stage as one of the best third-place teams. Sweden’s tournament thus came to an abrupt end – and with it Zlatan’s worldwide career.
“I had wanted him to have a better ending than this”, said coach Erik Hamren, who is also leaving his role with Sweden after the team return home.
“I was talking about how the players should be honoured to be here and to be playing for Sweden”.
Ibrahimovic ends his Sweden career with a record tally of 62 goals from 116 appearances. It’s nearly good that Belgium were thoroughly outclassed by Italy in that first game! Berg recollected the ball and passed to Albin Ekdal, whose first-time shot was on target but easily handled by Courtois.
But Radja Nainggolan’s strike secured second place in Group E for Hazard’s side.
Sweden’s sole goalscoring contribution to the 69 that went in throughout the group stages was not made by a Swede at all – but by Republic of Ireland defender Ciaran Clark, who nodded the ball past his own goalkeeper in the opening group match.
Belgium manager Marc Wilmots sought Ibrahimovic out within moments of the final whistle, ignoring for a moment the satisfaction of his team’s passage to the second round to exchange words with a player who, he admitted, he had to some extent set his team out with the intention to stop. “They have two very big but slow centre backs so I think our counterattack was very good”.
A minute later, Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is retiring from global soccer after the tournament, shot low and wide.
“He is special. He is unique”. A ideal pass from Kevin De Bruyne sets Romanlu Lukaku free but the Everton striker can’t convert. We kept two clean sheets on our way to the next round. “I’m very thankful. So thank you”, he said. Our last couple of games weren’t too bad, but unfortunately we couldn’t take our opportunities.
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“But we are back on track”.
