England have seized the initiative and are taking the game to Sweden. However, a move breaks down and Sweden launch a long ball to the back post where Sebastian Larsson has ventured into the box. Ashley Cole shows composure to head back to Joe Hart and avert danger.
Sweden's first strike on target sees Seb Larsson fire a rising shot on target from 25 yards, but Joe Hart is behind it and clutches the ball to his midriff.
From the evidence of the opening to this game, it is going to be an encounter of few chances. Both teams are very compact and the tempo is quite slow. If that is indeed the case, it comes down to who can rise to the occasion when those few chances come about?
Half-chance to England. Good play from Andy Carroll - both hold-up play and pass - releases James Milner down the right. His cross is superb and met by Danny Welbeck, but the contact on the header isn't strong enough and flashes across goal and wide. That was promising, though.
First sight of Zlatan Ibrahimovic as Seb Larsson swings a ball over the top to him from the right. However, before he can settle on the ball, Glen Johnson is back to claim the ball and pass back for Joe Hart to clear.
It has not been an inspiring start to the game from either side. Arguably, England have had marginally the better of it. They've given Sweden a little look-in at the back on occasions, though. The latest of these sees Zlatan Ibrahimovic shoot from distance, but Joe Hart is equal to it with a tidy save low to his left.
John Terry v Zlatan Inbrahimovic is going to be an interesting battle. The latter gets the best of the first tussle, muscling Terry off the ball with ease deep in England territory, but his pass is poor and England clear.
Not quite sure what Ashley Cole was attempting there. I think it was a long shot. A very long shot. But is drifts closer to the corner flag than the goal.
Former England manager, and BBC Radio 5 live summariser, Graham Taylor in Kiev"I feel like I'm watching an old-fashioned club game. I don't feel like I'm watching an international game. Both sides are playing the same formation, there's no movement of players and no change of positions from players on either side. It's a different type of game to the ones we have been watching in this competition."
GOALSweden 0-1 England (Andy Carroll, 23 minsl)England lead! It is the first real moment of quality in the match that sees Steven Gerrard cross from deep on the right and Andy Carroll - the man drafted in to make an aerial difference to England's attack - rise and crash a header down and past the dive of Andreas Isaksson. That is why he is in the team. It has been an efficient as opposed to excellent start from England, but that moment encapsulated elements of both.
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