Sweden 2-3 England: Larsson Impressive Despite Defeat

As we continue our roundup of International action, we now look back at Sweden's 2-3 defeat to England, which no doubt everybody watched anyway, but that's the sort of thing we do. We like to make sure every game is covered. You never know, there may have been some who missed it.

Anyway, for many fans this was the perfect result. England won, which is enjoyable in itself, and the Sunderland contingent, represented in this fixture by Seb Larsson, didn't disgrace himself at all.

Join us, as we recap the sexy Swede's performance...

Larsson started the game on the right hand side of midfield for the Scandinavian sides, and did pretty well in the main. Looked full of energy which seemed to be lacking over the latter parts of the Premier League season, and was involved in a lot of the side's good work.

After only 11 minutes you could tell it was to be one of those nights for Larsson as he fired a sighter down the throat of Joe Hart from some distance out. Only moments prior to that Larsson nearly connected, and could have connected, with a lofted ball from Zlatan Ibrahimovic had it not been for Ashley Cole's interference.

17 minutes in, and Larsson once again was providing more danger as his swerving ball into the box, with John Terry and Joleon Lescott floundering, Glen Johnson was on hand to deny any goal scoring opportunity for the imperious front man.

Before the half was done Larsson found himself able to beat Cole in the air and nod down to former Bolton Wanderers front man Johan Elmander, only for Hart to once again deny the Swedes a goal.

There was little involvement however in Sweden's equalising goal. A centrally placed free-kick was perfectly in "Larsson territory" however Zlatan pulled rank and fired towards goal. The ball cannoning off the wall and into the path of former Aston Villa defender, and expert beard-wearer, Olof Mellberg to eventually stab home.

Larsson could have had his side 2-1 up just a couple of minutes later. Kim Kallstrom this time floating the ball across goal, and some how Larsson fluffed his lines. It was one of them where it looked as though he was expecting Elmander to get a touch, no touch came and it saw our wing wizard in two minds, eventually doing nothing.

Two minutes later however, Larsson was very actively involved as the Swede's took the lead. It was his hanging free-kick from the left hand side which curled in to Mellberg who headed in his and his side's second goal of the game, leaving England in a precarious position with only a half hour to play.

Sadly, it seems Seb had a part in England's dramatic equalising goal five minutes later. Substitute Theo Walcott lashed in from the edge of the area, and it looekd as though the ball may have took a deft touch off the lunging Larsson to deflect bast Andreas Isakson who was all at sea. A very, very, faint touch mind. For my money the keeper really should have done better.

Larsson continued to bust a gut and work his backside off for the side, but all to no avail as former Sunderland striker Danny Welbeck grabbed the decisive goal with a back heel (of sorts) with ten minutes to play.

A late free-kick from Larsson came to nothing, headed away by Liverpool's premiere greased up gypsy, Andy Carroll, and with seconds remaining on the clock, not much could be done.

Sweden are now out of the tournament after suffering defeat in both games, and have little to play for against France on Tuesday night other than pride. Hopefully Larsson will feature again and give the Swedes something to shout about, and of course help England to top the group, should they get anything from their own game against the Ukraine on the same night.

We'll have a report from any action he's involved with on that night too, provided Sweden don't make wholesale changes for the tie.