Scandinavians outclass Argentina
Valmir Berisha scores a brilliant hat trick to help Sweden secure bronze medal
ABU DHABI — This wasn’t a dream. It was reality. But it was well worthy to be called a fairytale. Debutants Sweden left everyone speechless with their firebrand football to defeat football powerhouses Argentina and finish third in the Fifa Under-17 World Cup on Friday night.
Placed in the Group of Death, Sweden negotiated their way through that, the Round of 16 and the quarter-final. Though they went down to the tournament favourites Nigeria in the semis, the Scandanavians, who had received a “Go for it” message from former Swedish international Tomas Brolin before the game, outclassed Argentina 4-1 in the play-off for the third place.
Valmir Berisha scored a brilliant hat trick, while Carlos Strandberg scored one for Sweden. The La Albiceleste could only muster one goal through Lucio Compagnucci.
At the end of 90 minutes, a packed Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, filled with a majority of Nigerian and Mexican fans joined the sprinkling of Swedish fans, to applaud the Swedes.
It was also the perfect farewell for Swedish coach Roland Larsson, who oversaw his last game with this team. Larsson will go on to coach the Swedish Under-15 side.
This was the first time the two teams were meeting in this competition. They have met twice in the Fifa World Cup in 1934 and 2002. Sweden had won that round game in 1934 and drew 1-1 in 2002.
This was Argentina’s record fifth appearance in a third-place match. They had won on three occasions where they beat Qatar on penalties in 1991, Oman in 1995 and Colombia in 2003, again on penalties. Their only defeat was against Burkina Faso in 2001.
Sweden made their intentions clear right from the start and were all over Argentina. They ruffled the Latin Americans and didn’t allow them to settle down.
Sweden broke the deadlock in the very seventh minute of the game with the impressive Berisha scoring his fifth goal of the competition.
After a throw-in, the bulky and strong Carlos Strandberg cleverly lobbed it to an unmarked Berisha on the right. Berisha kept his composure and guided it home from close range.
Sweden looked a tight unit in their attacks as well as their backline which had turned into a fortress. It was not something which was over the moon but Sweden were doing the basics just right. They worked very hard down the flanks with the right side being more dominant.
The Scandanavians could have doubled the lead on 18 minutes after Strandberg fired in a dangerous cross from the left. But Gustav Engvall failed to make contact and let is sail past him.
They didn’t have to wait long though as Strandberg’s hard work on the right flank, was rewarded. Engvall darted through from the right and shook off is marker and sent in a cross. Strandberg fired a perfect volley into the net.
Two goals in the first 20 minutes and Argentina were staring down the barrell. All they could conjure was a dangerous foray on 23 min- utes but captain Sebastian Driussi’s left-footed effort from the tip of the box, went wide of the post.
Sweden added to Argentina’s misery by getting a third, a minute later. Again after a throw-in, Engvall did a solo down the right and slipped past his marker and shot. But his effort his the left upright and came back into play. Berisha quickly pounced on the rebound and volleyed it into the net.
Argentina came close on 38 minutes but Driussi’s shot from close range, was safely collected by goalkeeper Sixten Mohlin.
The Latin Americans, who looked rather subdued by Sweden’s assault, did pull one back on the stroke of half-time with Lucio Compagnucci heading home from close range, with a minute left.
That goal seemed to have galvanised the Argentines as they showed stomach for a fight after the break. They were a lot more aggressive and came close with a number of sorties.
But there was no stopping Berisha. Top tier football awaits him after he scored Sweden’s fourth and also completed his hat trick on 57 minutes. Berisha popped up to send a brilliant header home after a corner, for his seventh goal in seven matches.
With that, he vaulted past Brazil’s Boschilia in the top goalscorer chart, which is sure to land him the Golden Boot.
Berisha asked to be taken off because of a likely foot injury and he came off three minutes later.
Argentina’s captain Driussi waged a lone battle upfront but it was not to be Argentina’s day as his brilliant effort on 68 minutes just whizzed past the right post after a cross from the right.