Euro 2012 News: Sweden 0-0 vs. Hungary Half-Time Report
The starting line-up for Sweden is Andreas Isaksson, (Goalkeeper), Mikael Lustig, Olof Mellberg, Daniel Majstorovic, Behrang Safari, Ola Toivonen, Anders Svensson, Zlatan Ibrahimović (Captain), Johan Elmander, Pontus Wernbloom, Emir Bajrami.
The starting line-up for Hungary is Gábor Király (goalkeeper), Zoltán Lipták, Pál Lázár, Roland Juhász, Zsolt Laczkó, Krisztián Vadócz, Balázs Dzsudzsák, Gergely Rudolf, Vladimir Koman, Zoltán Gera (Captain), Ákos Elek.
The substitutes for Sweden were Johan Wiland (goalkeeper), Sebastian Larsson, Kim Källström, Andreas Granqvist, Marcus Berg, Oscar Wendt, Christian Wilhelmsson.
The substitutes for Hungary were Márton Fülöp (goalkeeper), Krisztián VermesSzabolcs Huszti, Tamás Hajnal, Zoltán Szélesi, Vilmos Vanczák, and Tamás Priskin.
The referee of the match was Martin Atkinson.
Hungary started off aggressively and in the 2nd minute, Elek took a shot but missed his target.
Sweden countered and were able to take a penalty corner which Svensson delivered, but no one was able to capitalize from it.
To counter the strong Hungarian play, Swedish players started to defend aggressively and soon enough in the 4th minute, Bajrami gave away a free-kick when he challenged Koman, but again the chance to score was wasted.
After that, both teams started make a more pragmatic approach and passed the ball around. Proceedings in the 8th minute brought another attempt at goal as Elmander produced a good effort but Kirlay in the end made the save.
In the 15th minute, Sweden were able to acquire another penalty corner and Bajrami took it. The ball eventually travelled to Majstorovic who put it wide.
In the 17th minute, Sweden was far too aggressive again as Elmander gave another free-kick to Hungary. This time Z. Laczkó took it.
The Hungarians were belligerent in the same minute, as Rudolf tackled unsuccessfully against Mellberg.
The game started to resemble more of an intense battle as the 18th minute saw another free-kick, this time given by Elek when he challenged Wernbloom.
In the 19th minute, there was a good try to score from the Swedish side as Toivonen attempted to draw first blood but Király was the saviour again.
The game intensified further after 20 minutes as Bajrami delivered a penalty corner. The plot was countered by Hungarians as Gera tried to score but the attempt was futile with his shot being wide in the 22nd minute.
Swedes immediately responded in the 23rd but this time it was Dzsudzsák was wide.
In the 26th minute, the Hungarian skipper Gera on Svensson gave away a free kick that the Swedish captain Ibrahimović took.
The Swedish play resulted in a penalty corner taken by Bajrami in the 27th minute, but the deadlock remained.
Hungary seemed desperate for a goal as in the 28th minute Rudolf was flagged offside. That was followed by Vadócz’s chance to score in the 29th minute, and just a minute later, Rudolf was flagged offside again.
In the 32nd minute, Bajrami was successful in taking the penalty corner but still no goal.
Sweden substituted Svensson for Källström in the 33rd minute, and the game resumed.
Following that, Dzsudzsák took a penalty corner in the 34th minute but the Hungarians failed to score again.
In the 35th minute, Toivonen was warned for committing a foul against Lipták and the referee seemed frustrated at the lack of a smooth game.
There was a pretty game-play made in the 39th minute which could have produced a winner, but Ibrahimović was off target.
In the 40th minute, Wernbloom challenged Rudolf poorly and a foul was given. In the proceedings, Dzsudzsák fired a shot but it was blocked by an impregnable Swedish defence.
The frustrated Hungarians retreated but on the way Juhász fouled Toivonen and Källström took the free-kick in the 44th minute.
In the 45th minute, the last chance to score came to Ibrahimović but he was off track yet again. End score: 0-0.
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