INTERNATIONAL

• Half-time report Sweden vs. Bulgaria

  
  

  Lisbon, Portugal (Sports Network) - This second match of Group C is a match-up between Bulgaria and Sweden in Lisbon at the Jose Alvalade stadium. Bulgaria is beating the Swedes all over the field but a goal from Swedish winger Ljungberg is the only difference thus far. Sweden leads Bulgaria 1-0 when they entered the half.

  This is the first time these two sides have met in a major final tournament since the 1994 World Cup in the third place play-off match. During that game Sweden walked all over the Bulgarian side winning 4-0.

  The two countries have taken two different approaches to the match, Sweden will be playing a 4-diamond-2 formation while Bulgaria will line up in a 4-4-1 offensive forward-1 defensive forward.

  Just after referee Riley started the game, quick passing combinations allowed both teams to advance the ball in to the opponents area.

  Early on this quick paced game saw allot of long balls up the flanks as well as individual work through the center on the field.

  The Bulgarians tried the use their speed in the first ten minutes to out run the Swedish defense. Although they were able to get through on occasion, they made the wrong choices when positioned to shoot.

  The Bulgarian formation seemed to not complement the ball they choose to play. With a single forward up front it is hard to pick out just one man when you are playing long balls and diagonal crosses.

  The first dangerous opportunity for both sides when the Bulgarian winger Martin Petrov broke free down the left side and crossed a ball back from the end-line, to where Jankovic was standing. Jankovic hit the ball out of the air and just missed the target.

  Just a few minutes later Bulgarian defender Ivailo Petrov was carded for a high kick. The Swedes were rewarded with a indirect kick from the just inside the six. There was no where for the Swedes to go with the ball, due to the Bulgarian side formation of a 7 man wall. The Swedish shot went over the cross bar.

  Just a few short minutes later two more cards came out. Bulgarian defender Kirilov received a card, for his hard challenge on Ljungberg. Jankovic, also from Bulgaria, got his name in the book a few seconds after his teammate.

  During the 26th minute the Bulgarian forward Berbatov almost stuck an 18 yard header, but the Swedish goalie Isaksson got his hand on it late to push it over the crossbar.

  The first goal of the match was during the 32nd minute when Swedish forward Ibrahimovic gained a step on the entire Bulgarian defense and slotted a pass to winger Ljungberg, who found himself on the six with no one in front of him and touched the ball into the back of the net.

  In the 41st minute the Swedish side decided to make a change to their line-up they added Wilhelmsson in place of Lucic.

  The half ended much the same way it started. The Bulgarian side was creating plays up the sides and directly down the center of the field, while the Swedish side relied on their counter attacks to gain a 1-0 advantage before half.

  06/14 15:53:54 ET