Sweden hands Scotland friendly defeat
A dynamic Swedish side defeated Scotland 3–0 in a friendly meeting between the sides in Stockholm on Wednesday.
The match marked the return of captain and star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic to the Swedish team, and new coach Erik Hamren's fourth consecutive victory since taking charge.
Scottish manager Craig Levein, also recently appointed, suffered his first international defeat.
After only three minutes Ibrahimovic got on the score sheet for Sweden, tapping home midfielder Pontus Wernblom's cross from just outside the six-yard box.
On 29 minutes, left winger Emir Bajrami raced clear and scored his first international goal after pouncing on the rebound of his own left-footed effort.
Scottish keeper Allan McGregor kept the figures low with some impressive stops, but he failed to deny Ola Toivonen's header after 55 minutes.
Sweden ahead early on
The lively Swedish side, which included several young prospects as well as veterans Ibrahimovic, Olof Mellberg and Anders Svensson, took the lead in its first attack.
Mellberg played a pass from defence which Johan Elmander knocked to Michael Lustig on the right flank.
Lustig picked out Wernblom, who had made a timely forward run from midfield. He found Ibrahimovic inside the box, whose first time finish went beyond McGregor.
The Swedes' rapid movement exposed weaknesses in a relatively inexperienced Scottish side, whose central defender Garry Kenneth made his first international appearance in the game.
Ibrahimovic provided a flash of brilliance as he met a long ball from defence with a backheel-flick to Toivonen, who partnered the Barcelona striker in attack. Toivonen advanced and struck a bouncing effort towards the Scottish goal.
McGregor blocked the shot, but the ball fell to Elmander, whose left-footed attempt was kept out by the keeper.
In the 29th minute, it was Andrea Isaksson's turn to fumble in the Swedish goal as he failed to hold James McFadden's cross. Like Elmander, midfielder Charlie Adam was quick to react, but Isaksson kept his shot out.
Ten minutes later, Bajrami raced clear behind full-back Kirk Broadfoot to collect Svensson's clever through ball from midfield. Bajrami's first effort was parried by McGregor, but he recovered swiftly to hit a right-footed effort into the top-right corner of the net.
Subdued second half
In a less eventful second half, Sweden would put game beyond doubt after 55 minutes.
Substitute Kim Kallstrom chased the ball to the goal line and sent a lofted cross from left to the middle of the penalty area where Toivonen, Sweden's best player on the night, rose above the scottish defence to head home.
Scotland enjoyed more possession after the break, but never managed to unnerve Hamren's strong side.
On 66 minutes, Kris Boyd latched onto a fine ball from Manchester United's Darren Fletcher, but his first-time shot was blocked by Isaksson.
Both teams went into the game to test their form ahead of the European qualifiers, which begin next month. Out of the two new coaches, Hamren will be most pleased with the outcome, while Levein may be left with some pressing concerns.
Sweden begin their qualifiers at home to Hungary on 3 September, while Scotland travel to Lithuania on the same day.
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