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Swedes edge win over Slovenia as Ibrahimovic sits match out
STOCKHOLM (AFP) - Tobias Linderoth's first goal in more than seven years for Sweden saw the Euro 2008 finalists beat Slovenia 1-0 in a warm-up match for the finals on Monday, though, worryingly star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic sat out the match with his knee bandaged.
Linderoth, who was winning his 74th cap but his first since suffering a hip injury in November, scored the game's only goal in the 41st minute to show coach Lars Lagerback that he is fit enough to make the final squad.
Linderoth seized on the ball and forced his way first past a Slovenian defender and then shot it fiercely past goalkeeper Samir Handanovic.
Slovenia dominated the match in the second half and had at least two good chances to equalize - in particular when the ball hit the arm of Swedish midfielder Daniel Andersson in the 70th minute but referee William Collum chose not to award a penalty kick - but the team remained goalless.
Ibrahimovic, who recently helped inspire Inter Milan to a third successive Serie A title and is expected to be one of Sweden's top stars at Euro, sat on the bench with his knee bandaged after a tendon injury diagnosed in February.
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