Minute by Minute: Russia - Sweden

Soccerway - 18 June 2008 20:11

Andrei Arshavin is back for Russia - and, perhaps, just in time

INNSBRUCK, Jun 18 (SW) - It's crunch time for Russia and Sweden in Euro 2008 Group D as they vie for a place in the quarter-finals. SoccerWay keeps you up to date.

Current score: <b>2-0</b>

More match information: <a href="http://www.soccerway.com/match/european-championships/russia/sweden/529765/">Here</a>.

For updates on Greece - Spain, click <a href="http://www.soccerway.com/news/2008/June/18/minute-by-minute-greece---spain">here</a>.

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FULL-TIME: Russia are through to the knockout rounds after a brilliant performance against Sweden. Their reward? A quarter-final date with the Netherlands on Saturday.

GRE-ESP update: Daniel Güiza scores his first goal for Spain and they take a 2-1 lead over Greece.

Minute 90: Vladimir Bystrov will replace the ever-influential Pavlyuchenko who could well be man of the match.

Minute 89: Arshavin's shot is right into Isaksson. Could have been 3-0 once again.

Minute 85: Russia again looking the more likely side to score. Sweden looking dazed and confused.

Minute 82: Another missed chance for Russia as Saenko breaks 2-on-2, but crosses just behind Arshavin, and the dragged shot is wide.

Minute 82: Anyukov crosses to a wide open Pavlyuchenko, but his header is straight into Isaksson's chest.

Minute 80: Russia could have put it away but it hits the post! Saenko takes a crack at it, but it deflects onto the woodwork with Isaksson beat. That would have been game over.

Minute 79: Left-back Nilsson is off for Sweden as Marcus Allbäck comes on. Attacker for defender with that switch.

Minute 77: Denis Kolodin booked as he concedes a free kick from 28 yards here for Sweden in the center of the pitch. It's their first chance of the sort in the game, but the shot by Ibrahimovic sails well over everything - wall and goal alike.

Minute 74: Källström fires in from 30 yards out, but the low drive is wide of the near post.

Minute 73: Larsson has a pinpoint cross from the left to the far post, and it finds Ibrahimovic, but his header down bounces to Akinfeev.

Minute 70: Free kick from near the byline is curled in by Zhirkov and it fools Isaksson, but it's over the top.

Minute 67: Stoor nearly concedes a disastrous own goal. He's a bit lucky not to be whistled for a foul on Arshavin, but he then hammers it back toward the goal, and fortunately for Sweden it goes off Isaksson for a corner.

Minute 66: A good effort by Bilyaletdinov has come to an end with Ivan Saenko entering the game.

Minute 65: Arshavin goes into the book for a tackle in midfield on Källström.

GRE-ESP update: Spain are level with Greece as Rubén de la Red has equalized. It's 1-1 now in that one.

Minute 62: Corner kick from Sweden is headed by Olof Mellberg over the top.

Minute 60: Cross in from Fredrik Stoor is punched away by Akinfeev.

Minute 58: Free kick from midfield into the penalty area is hit with an overhead by Larsson, but Akinfeev safely gathers.

Minute 57: Sergei Semak picks up a booking for a foul on Larsson on the touchline as Sweden pushed forward.

Minute 56: First switch of the match is for Sweden as Kim Källström comes on for Daniel Andersson. He, along with Elmander, will drive the attack from midfield.

Minute 55: Sweden make a run into the area, but Sergei Ignashevich cuts it out.

Minute 50: <b>GOAL RUSSIA (2-0) ANDREI ARSHAVIN</b> scores on his return to Russia! A great ball in from the left by Zhirkov finds a streaking Arshavin, and his finish is superb to the far corner. Sweden with a lot to do now.

Minute 49: Elmander is booked for playing the ball toward goal after the whistle.

HALF-TIME: Russia dominated the first 35 minutes of the match, getting the goal from Pavlyuchenko, but Sweden closed out the half with constant pressure. Can they keep it up? Or will half-time get in their way?

Minute 45+1: Almost squeaking through is Mikael Nilsson. He finds the ball at his feet, but Akinfeev comes out to knock it away. Sweden playing much better now.

Minute 43: Ljungberg is denied by Akinfeev. Ibrahimovic plays a one-two with the captain, but doesn't get the return, and it's a corner to Sweden.

GRE-ESP update: Angelos Charisteas has given Greece a 1-0 lead over a new-look Spain side. The holders would love to exit the tournament with points.

Minute 42: Pavlyuchenko tries a first-time effort at the edge of the area, but it's never on target.

Minute 41: First corner of the match for Sweden is punched away by Akinfeev.

Minute 36: The bar keeps Russia out! Pavlyuchenko has a shot in the center of the area and it goes crashing off the bar.

Minute 28: Pavlyuchenko lays it off for Bilyaletdinov on the left side of the area, but his shot is right at Isaksson. Sweden lacking a lot of answers in the back.

Minute 27: But Sweden close to the response! Cross from the left finds the run of Henrik Larsson, and his header hits the corner of the woodwork!

Minute 26: Diniyar Bilyaletdinov slips trying a shot from the top of the area, and he drags it wide.

Minute 24: <b>GOAL RUSSIA (1-0) ROMAN PAVLYUCHENKO</b> finishes a great play by Russia, and they've got the deserved opener. After a break on the right, Anyukov plays the ball nicely into the center where Pavlyuchenko expertly guides home. Great goal all around by Russia.

Minute 21: Cross from the left by Arshavin is a poor one, but it goes on goal and Isaksson has to push it for a corner. On the corner, it comes out to Yuri Zhirkov outside the area, and his volley isn't far off the target. Russia getting close.

Minute 19: Russia looking the more likely of the sides to score, and their pressure has earned them another corner kick, but Konstantin Zyrianov's effort doesn't amount to anything.

Minute 15: Roman Pavlyuchenko fires in a cross to the center of the area where it is touched by a Russian player, but it keeps skidding to the touch line.

Minute 13: Glancing header by Arshavin off a cross from Alexander Anyukov, but it bounces wide.

Minute 12: Laser shot from distance by Johan Elmander is well off-target, but he is showing he doesn't mind striking from that far out.

Minute 10: Sweden goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson is booked for time-wasting for kicking the ball away before a Russia corner.

Minute 10: Ibrahimovic rises to put a header on target, but it's no trouble for Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev.

Minute 7: The Russians have had some nice buildup, but it's a touch or two in the end that's cost them a good scoring chance.

Minute 5: First set piece of the match is a corner kick for Russia, but it comes to nothing.

Kickoff: Belgian referee Frank de Bleeckere is in charge today and this crucial Group D match is underway!

Pre-Game: Questions were numerous about the fitness of striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Sweden, but he is in Lars Lagerbäck's starting XI, a line-up that is unchanged from a heartbreaking last-gasp 2-1 loss to Spain.

Pre-Game: Russia make just one change from their team that beat Greece 1-0 and it is the inclusion of striker Andrei Arshavin on his return from international suspension. Dmitri Torbinski is therefore relegated to the bench for Guus Hiddink's side.

Pre-Game: Unlike the complicated scenarios of Group C yesterday, the qualification situation is much clearer in Group D. If Sweden earn a point from today's match, they are through as runners-up. Russia must win today to book a place in the last eight against the Netherlands.