Emil Forsberg, Mikael Lustig and John Guidetti netted for Sweden to send Wales into Euro 2016 on the back of a heavy defeat.
Wales signed off their Euro 2016
preparations with a 3-0 defeat to Sweden in Stockholm on Sunday,
stretching their winless run to four matches.
With
Gareth Bale named among the substitutes at the Friends Arena following
his Champions League-winning exploits with Real Madrid last weekend, it
was Zlatan Ibrahimovic's Sweden who dominated possession and chances
throughout.
And Ibrahimovic was key to the hosts' opener, teeing up Emil Forsberg to find the net from the edge of the box after 40 minutes.
Mikael
Lustig forced the Swedes' second over the line 12 minutes after the
break, before John Guidetti wrapped up the win three minutes from
time, sending Erik Hamren's side into their tournament opener against
Republic of Ireland on the back of a first win in four.
Bale
was introduced in the 64th minute by manager Chris Coleman, but he was
unable to salvage a result for Wales, who face Slovakia in Bordeaux next
Saturday.
Sweden, host nation of the 1958 World
Cup, was a fitting location for Wales to finalise preparations for their
first major tournament appearance in 58 years, but it was the hosts who
posed the early threat, with Martin Olsson firing high and wide from
close range after being played in by Ibrahimovic.
Lustig
then headed over from a corner as Wales struggled to settle, although
Jonny Williams and Aaron Ramsey both looked bright – quite literally in
the case of the latter's new peroxide blonde hairstyle – when called
upon in attack.
Williams and Ramsey formed part of
an unfamiliar midfield and forward line-up for Wales, joining Andy
King, David Vaughan and Sam Vokes in front of Chris Coleman's
first-choice back line. Of the five, only the Arsenal man would be
considered a guaranteed starter in France with everyone fit.
Ibrahimovic's
first chance to test Welsh goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey came after 20
minutes, but the outgoing Paris Saint-Germain striker dragged his shot
well wide of the left-hand post from the edge of the penalty area.
Half-hearted
appeals for a penalty against James Chester for handball were dismissed
by referee Tobias Welz 10 minutes from half-time, but Forsberg soon put
the hosts in front.
Ibrahimovic drove down the
left as Sweden mounted a quick counter-attack, squaring the ball for the
advancing Forsberg to place a shot into the bottom left-hand corner
from 18 yards.
Sweden goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson
did not emerge for the second half after struggling with an apparent
back problem during the opening 45 minutes – Robin Olsen his
replacement.
Wales' only change also came between
the posts as Danny Ward came on for Hennessey, and the Liverpool keeper
was almost beaten by a Marcus Berg chip within three minutes of the
restart. A desperate clearance off the line by Chester spared his
blushes.
Sweden continued to control proceedings,
with Forsberg proving a persistent menace to the Welsh defence, but it
was Lustig who eventually doubled the advantage.
Erik
Johansson's header was blocked on the line by Neil Taylor and the
rebound fell kindly for Lustig, who, after having his own first attempt
blocked, slotted the ball beyond Ward.
Anyone
hoping for a head-to-head between Ibrahimovic and Bale was left
disappointed as the two effectively switched places shortly after the
hour mark, but Guidetti capped off the win for Sweden by applying a
composed finish to another swift counter.
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