Sweden 0 - 1 Denmark

All the banter and exchange of words earlier this week involving Arsenal’s burgeoning Danish forward Nicklas Bendtner, and Internazionale’s in-demand striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, an interesting tussle see here had the potential to erupt as both players would hope to exert their authority early on in the game.
Ibrahimovic, who has scored 20 international goals in 56 appearances, had a chance inside the first minute to steal the headlines as his lined-up free-kick burst through the wall and had it not been for a Thomas Sorensen claim, then the score-board would have required changing.
Sorensen was again on guard to deny Sweden a set-piece conversion in the eleventh minute, when Kjaer was adjudged to have handled Olof Mellberg in the box. Referee Mike Riley was quick to point at the spot, but Kim Kallstrom failed to tuck the ball into the corner and Sorensen got a strong palm on the penalty to divert the ball over the bar.
Sweden continued to dominate up until the mid-way stage of the opening half, but Thomas Kahlenberg capitalised on Nillson’s erring clearance and the soon-to-be Wolfsburg striker made no hesitation in smashing forth and scoring his first ever international goal.
Five minutes later and Sorensen began to display whiffs of a goalkeeping clinic as he nonchalantly plucked a testing and looping inswinging cross out of the air, before again frustrating Kallstrom, who tried to beat the Stoke City shot-stopper with a left-pegged effort from just outside the area.
Denmark could have doubled their lead just moments later but Dennis Rommedahl failed to score from what seemed like only a matter of yards. Jakob Poulsen tried to clear a Lars Jacobsen cross, and Rommedahl, formerly of Charlton Athletic, was gifted a chance to score, but the winger duly squandered the shot.
The second half started slowly, but eventually recycled the same motif as the opening exchange: Sorensen guarding goal in an exemplary manner. Just after the hour mark Larsson found Elmander who volleyed goal-ward only for the Dane to get the better of the situation.
Then, with one-third of the game remaining, Larsson took control of a deft Ibrahimovic flick on, but the veteran net-bulger missed the target.
Missed chances were not exclusive to Sweden, as Bendtner - who improved throughout the club season with the Gunners - struck well over the bar
Sweden, for all their possession and chances, struggled to topple Denmark’s last line of defence,and reaffirmed the nation’s command of Group 1 in the European section of World Cup qualifiers.goal.
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