BELGIUM v SWEDEN

BELGIUM 2 (Goor 43, Mpenza 46) SWEDEN 1 (Mjallby 53)

I really enjoyed this! It was a fun game! I had expected a dull opener, but this was hardly that! Great stuff! Both teams set out to win the game and were off to flyers. (Which was a relief after the total puzzlement of the opening ceremony! A little boy dreaming or something. Well, why was the little boy (a) wearing makeup and (b) have a whistle around his neck? Poor little chap was totally knackered!!) Kennet Andersson had a chance after only 13 seconds but blew it. Sweden looked by far the best team for long periods of the first half - enjoying much possession and showing more initiative up front. However, Andersson's only *real* asset these days (imvho) is his height - and Pettersson was very selfish on a couple of occasions and had shots himself when he really should've passed the ball. However, some sloppy work by the aged Nilsson gave Goor a chance he couldn't miss; and he didn't. This was one minute before half-time.

The second half was only a minute old, when Belgium scored their second goal. There was a big suspicion of hand-ball by Mpenza - but cannot fault a splendid finish - and plop - 2-0 Belgium. The Swedes reaction was to bring on Henrik Larsson for Pettersson - and I do think he made a difference. On 53 minutes, De Wilde made an absolutely ridiculous fool of himself (after, admittedly having been fed a really stupid backpass) and gifted a goal to Sweden. Mjallby said, "thank you very much". Big hope for the Swedes then (and Marten sitting in the stands! :)) Alas, it wasn't to be - and, to add to their woes, they had Patrick Andersson (deservedly) sent off for two yellow cards. The Belgians celebrated like crazy! I loved the fans with the bags of chips on their heads!!!

Belgium whoop!

Sweden weep!

From this game I see only good things ahead for Belgium, because they work like mad and go for absolutely everything - they will be hard to beat. Sweden, however, are going to have to work overtime to qualify now. I really don't think they have the strength and depth required. Just my opinion though! This first game bodes well for the rest of the tournament! I LOVE it already!!

Teams and things

Belgium: 1 Filip De Wilde, 2 Eric Deflandre, 4 Lorenzo Staelens, 3 Joos Valgaeren, 17 Philippe Leonard (61 VanKerckhoven), 11 Gert Verheyen (87 Peeters), 7 Marc Wilmots, 6 Yves Vanderhaeghe, 8 Bart Goor, 10 Branko Strupar (68 Nilis), 9 Emile Mpenza.

Sweden: 1 Magnus Hedman, 2 Roland Nilsson (45 Lucic), 3 Patrik Andersson, 4 Joachim Bjorklund, 14 Olof Mellberg, 11 Niclas Alexandersson, 15 Daniel Andersson, 17 Johan Mjallby, 9 Fredrik Ljungberg, 19 Kennet Andersson, 10 Jorgen Pettersson (50 Larsson)

Bookings: Belgium: Nilis, 76 Sweden: Andersson, 44
Sent off: Sweden: Andersson, P, 80
Referee: M. Markus, Germany
Crowd: 50,000

Postscript

There was, what police describe as "rowdy behaviour" in the centre of Brussels after the match. Tear gas was used to disperse the crowds. It's difficult to believe that the fans of Belgium and Sweden could turn "rowdy". Is this perhaps an example of Belgian riot police overreacting? Or is this just a warning shot that no trouble *whatever* will be tolerated?