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Sweden win in Stockholm but Denmark steal away goal

After the break, the biggest star of the Swedish national team – Zlatan Ibrahimovic – doubled the lead and put Sweden firmly in command in the 50th minute of the game.

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Sweden scored two quickfire goals either side of halftime to beat Denmark 2-1 in a Euro 2016 playoff first leg on Saturday.

Ibrahimovic, who has declared his intention to call time on his global career following the tournament in France, gave the visitors the lead in Copenhagen against the run of play midway through the first half, before adding a sensational second after the interval.

With time and space, you’d have backed the frontman to knock the ball in, but Kasper Schmeichel saved brilliantly with his legs to keep the ball out and keep his side in the contest.

A backheel from Jimmy Durmaz allowed Mikael Lustig to sprint away down the right flank and his pass reached Forsberg at speed and the Leipzig winger buried a first-time shot into the corner past Schmeichel.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s penalty handed Sweden a narrow advantage at the halfway point of their Euro 2016 qualifying play-off tie against Denmark.

But Nicolai Jorgensen halved the deficit with 10 minutes left on the clock to give the Danes a ray of hope and a vital away goal.

“We have to believe”, Olsen said.

“The way I feel now, I feel I have more games to go”. 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”.

The RB Leipzig winger was brought down inside the Denmark penalty box just five minutes into the second half.

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Ukraine will complete the line-up in France next summer after they drew 1-1 with Slovenia in Maribor, which was enough for a 3-1 aggregate victory.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice for Sweden on Tuesday in the second leg of a playoff with Denmark.                    Getty