94 mins
|
Three points to Belgium and Sweden, to quote a cliche, have it all to do... |
94 mins
|
The ref blows for full-time. Belgium have - surprisingly? - won the opening game |
93 mins
|
Just seconds left and Sweden really need to move into the Belgian half |
92 mins
|
Nico Van Kerkhoven booked for time-wasting. Could be costly later on |
91 mins
|
... but Belgium have possession and are trying to keep the ball upfield |
90 mins
|
Sweden pumping the ball upfield looking for ther big man, Kennet Andersson |
90 mins
|
Ref signals 4 minutes of injury time. Sweden need to score... |
89 mins
|
... let's put that one down to a possible concussion! |
88 mins
|
Comic interlude: Verheyen trying to get back on after treatment - but he's already been substituted! |
87 mins
|
Jacky Peters on for Verheyen as the corner is held by the keeper |
86 mins
|
... but first there's more treatment for Verheyen. Stretcher is called on |
85 mins
|
Another chance for Mjallby - good header tipped over by the keeper. Corner... |
85 mins
|
Back to the footie - Van Kerkhoven sprints across to dispossess Larsson |
83 mins
|
Osmanovski brings down Deflandre and there'll be a lengthy break for treatment |
82 mins
|
That leaves Sweden a player down and a goal down. But feeling aggrieved... |
81 mins
|
Goor was on a great run (his second touch of the game, it seems) when he was brought down |
80 mins
|
Patrik Andersson gets a second yellow card for charging in to Goor - and he's sent off |
78 mins
|
Yet another run from Nilis. He may be too old to last 90 minutes but he's a great sub |
76 mins
|
Nilis gets his name in the book - but it's for a booking rather than a goal |
75 mins
|
Nilis has had a couple of half-chances and the home fans are making lots of noise |
74 mins
|
Nilis is seeing lots of the ball. He's joining Aston Villa this summer - looks a good (free) buy |
73 mins
|
Then Van Kerkhoven and Nilis - two subs - combine with flair to set up a half-chance |
72 mins
|
Pace of the match has slowed for the moment |
72 mins
|
Nico Van Kerkhoven comes on for Leonard - plenty of new faces for us all to learn!! |
70 mins
|
For Belgium, that's a striker for a striker. But the Swedish sub is a far more attacking player |
68 mins
|
Two substitutions - Luc Nilis for Strupar followed by Yksel Osmanovski for Daniel Andersson |
67 mins
|
It looked a fair goal... but the ref's whistle makes up for Mpenza's goal that WAS allowed |
67 mins
|
Mpenza gets ball in the net from resulting melee but the whistle has already gone... |
66 mins
|
Verheyen back on form - forcing a corner after another run down the right |
64 mins
|
The first yellow card awarded to Gert Verheyen for a foul on Ljungberg |
64 mins
|
Belgians look a little strained. Vanderhaeghe just made a needless mistake |
63 mins
|
Kennet Andersson curls it round the wall but wide of the near post |
63 mins
|
Free-kick for Sweden 22 yards from goal... |
60 mins
|
Deflandre steps up to try his luck. The full-back's shot is fierce but straight at Hedman |
60 mins
|
Half-an-hour to go and the opener is nicely poised |
58 mins
|
Mjallby's turn to try something clever - if he'd gone route 1 he would have had a great chance |
56 mins
|
Well it's all Sweden after that goal. The ball is camped in the Belgian half |
55 mins
|
Daniel Andersson releases Ljungberg - through 1 on 1 and the keeper saves the day |
54 mins
|
De Wilde tested again by high ball. Dealt with. He can catch - he just can't dribble. |
53 mins
|
De Wilde tried to play the ball round the Swedish midfielder when he needed to hoof clear. He was under pressure, took a gamble and paid the price |
52 mins
|
Mjallby scores after a truly awful mistake by the Belgian keeper. It's 2-1 |
51 mins
|
Sweden are pressing now but have done nothing to trouble the Belgians |
50 mins
|
Pettersson was playing well but Larsson adds something special. Sweden need it now |
49 mins
|
Henrik Larsson coming on for Pettersson. Great story as he returns from terrible leg break |
46 mins
|
Goals either side of the break and now Belgium can do no wrong. Swedes suffering |
46 mins
|
Mpenza looked to control with his hand but ref waved play on. He did - and scored! |
46 mins
|
...and MPENZA HAS ALREADY SCORED THE SECOND! |
46 mins
|
We're back for the second half. Lucic is on for Nilsson, who gave the ball away for the goal |
45 mins
|
Half time: that was the perfect time to score and the crowd roar the teams in at the break |
45 mins
|
It's Belgium with possession and all the pressure in the closing seconds of the half |
42 mins
|
It's practically his first touch - stealing the ball from Nilsson and storming through to drive the ball under Hedman |
42 mins
|
Bart Goor SCORES THE OPENER!! |
40 mins
|
Ljungberg creates space for a shot which never really tests De Wilde |
39 mins
|
Andersson penalised for shirt-tugging - agin his lack of pace is exposed |
39 mins
|
Pettersson heads on for Andersson to run on - that's the wrong way round guys! |
37 mins
|
Belgium's best chance: great Verheyen cross to Mpenza. His free header goes too high |
36 mins
|
At last a shot on target - but Strupar doesn't get any power behind it. Too far out |
35 mins
|
Swedes are starting to look wobbly in defence. Someone needs to take charge |
33 mins
|
... is delivered straight into De Wilde's grateful arms. |
33 mins
|
Staelens upends Pettersson just outside the box. Free-kick... |
31 mins
|
Deflandre's dangerous free-kick flicked away from packed Swedish area |
30 mins
|
Half an hour gone: things pretty even. |
29 mins
|
Mpenza sends two quick crosses in to test Swedish defence. Dealt with... eventually |
28 mins
|
Andersson and Pettersson are combining well - height and pace respectively |
2 mins
|
Wilmots and Verheyen again impress going forward but Sweden come away with it |
25 mins
|
Lorenzo Staelens takes a knock on the head. First injury stoppage of the game |
24 mins
|
Jorgen Pettersson takes corner but De Wilde takes comfortably |
22 mins
|
Wilmots inches away from connecting with a Verheyen cross. It looked good... |
22 mins
|
Home fans sense things are on the up |
21 mins
|
Another effort from Strupar. This time his header is a long way over the crossbar |
20 mins
|
Verheyen is having a good spell. He's got plenty of energy |
18 mins
|
Now it's Mpenza's turn to use his pace to worry the Swedes - Hedman gets there first |
17 mins
|
Another good move down the left for Belgium. Roland Nilsson covering |
14 mins
|
That's more like it for the hosts. Strupar again on the end of it - volleying just over |
13 mins
|
Verheyen sends lovely through ball that Strupar can't quite reach. Good move for the hosts |
11 mins
|
Petersson will be surprised he didn't get a penalty after being closed down in De Wilde's area |
10 mins
|
First Belgian corner - at last. Gets quite a cheer from the supporters. Hedman punches clear |
10 mins
|
Belgium have survived the opening spell - that's certainly how it must feel for the home fans |
8 mins
|
Now Belgium have time to build, but there's no chinks in the Swedish defence |
7 mins
|
Another Swedish corner and Kennet Andersson's header shaves the post - VERY close! |
6 mins
|
Staelens stabs ball away from under nose of Petersson - edge of six yard box |
5 mins
|
That's raised the temperature a bit. |
4 mins
|
... only just past the post from Patrik Andersson - deflected for a corner |
4 mins
|
Free-kick to Sweden 25 yards out on the right - shooting range... |
3 mins
|
Patrik Andersson does well to intercept through ball aimed at Mpenza |
2 mins
|
Mpenza and Wilmots set up Valgaeren for a cross but Sweden clear easily |
2 mins
|
Alot of noise as you might expect. All Belgian at this stage, but Swedes starting brighter |
1 min
|
Kennet Andersen shoots from edge of the area in first move of the game - a decent chance! |
0 mins
|
Here we go: Belgium in red, Sweden in yellow. The weather's good and the crowd ready |
0 mins
|
The national anthems are being sung - the last formalities before kick off (thank goodness!) |
0 mins
|
This is where all the action will be - live commentary from 7.45pm on the first game of Euro 2000! |