Belgium Eliminate Sweden From Euro 2016 With 1-0 Win In Ibrahimovic’s Last International Game

Belgium defeated Sweden 1-0 in their final group-stage game of the UEFA Euro 2016 tournament in Nice on Wednesday thanks to a late goal from Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan, thus ending superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s international career with a defeat.

Belgium Eliminate Sweden From Euro 2016 With 1-0 Win In Ibrahimovic’s Last International Game

Nainggolan, 28, who is reportedly targeted by Chelsea, controlled a cross from Eden Hazard outside the box and fired it into the net in the 82nd minute.

Belgium will now move on to the Round of 16, where they will face Hungary in Toulouse on June 26. Belgium finished second in Group E, while Sweden finished last. Italy finished first despite a 1-0 loss to Ireland on Wednesday.

The first half-hour of Thursday’s match proved to be thrilling. Sweden nearly had a great start three minutes in when a goalmouth half-volley by Marcus Berg, in for John Giudetti as strike partner to Ibrahimovic, was knocked out by Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. 

Then midway through the half, Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne took a backheel pass from Hazard and fired a shot straight at Swedish goalie Andreas Isaksson. 

Sweden’s Albin Ekdal received a yellow card shortly afterwards for a last-ditch trip on De Bruyne, who twice in five minutes shot lethal crosses across the area.

Sweden’s defense was able to contain Everton forward Romelu Lukaku, whose two goals in Belgium’s previous game against the Republic of Ireland gave the team their first win of the tournament following an opening-game loss to Italy.

Ibrahimovic, meanwhile, struggled to put up any meaningful shots on goal.

The 34-year-old star striker announced his retirement from international soccer after Euro 2016 on Tuesday.

Early in the second half, Belgium nearly hd a chance when defender Thomas Meunier headed a perfect De Bruyne cross just wide of Isaksson’s near post.

Belgium had a strong penalty claim turned when a cross from Yannick Ferreira Carrasco was blocked.

Then with fifteen minutes left, Belgium almost made a breakthrough when a strong Lukaku break was foiled by Isakksson who spread his body well to the shot.

One minute later, an identical run by the Everton star, this time with a finish, was ruled offside.

A few minutes after that, Ibrahimovic was denied a goal attempt on a free kick by Courtois. A header was then cleared off the line by Meunier.

The Swedish superstar fought to the end, nearly scoring a late equaliser with a half volley, but the final minutes were instead marked by Belgian fans loudly chanting “Bye Bye Ibrahimovic!”

NICE, FRANCE – JUNE 22: Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Sweden looks to control the ball during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group E match between Sweden and Belgium at Allianz Riviera Stadium on June 22, 2016 in Nice, France. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena