Michael Regan/Getty Images Zlatan this, Zlatan that. Everyone is talking about Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his consummate four-goal performance for Sweden in their 4-2 international friendly victory over England on Wednesday.
It is surely deserved. Ibrahimovic became the first person to ever score four goals in one match against England. The last time anyone had scored a hat-trick against England was Marco van Basten way back in Euro 1988. Ibrahimovic ‘s final finish was surely quality. While some, including Steven Gerrard, have called it “ the best I ‘ve ever seen, ” I find that to be a sting of hyperbole. While it took quite a bit of skill and technique to make the tear, the goal was gaping open. even Ibrahimovic admitted after the match that “ it ‘s both luck and skill. ” “ If you ask me, from the four goals which one that I like most, I think the first goal, ” Ibrahimovic said in this post-match iron conference. “ Because it ‘s some kind of history goal, because it ‘s the first gear finish in the newfangled stadium. ” But Ibrahimovic ‘s display overshadowed what should have been a massive juncture for Gerrard. Gerrard made his hundredth appearance for the England national team and put in a expose that should be remembered equally well. When Gerrard left the gear in the 75th minute in favor of Tom Huddlestone, England held a 2-1 advantage and were in command of the match. Gerrard was surgical in his manner of speaking of set pieces. His curling free kick in the 37th minute landed just inside the six-yard corner and out of crop from swedish goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson. Steven Caulker, who was making his England introduction, tapped it in to give England the 2-1 lead.
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Gerrard about had another aid earlier in the match. Gerrard took a free kick in the 16th hour that equitable eluded Gary Cahill, who had a casual to flick the ball past Isaksson. The Liverpool midfielder had a copulate of choice shots on finish in the second half as well, Gerrard besides held together a very inexperienced midfield. Leon Osman and Raheem Sterling were both making their England debuts, and Tom Cleverley had less than 10 England caps. In total, Gerrard and Osman led England with four shots each. The veteran earned a rat of 4.0/5.0 from Goal.com, the highest of any England actor.
It all fell apart when Gerrard left the pitch. Sweden and Ibrahimovic scored the next three goals in a span of 14 minutes. While the batting order was a grind of players who were making their debuts, like Ryan Shawcross, Carl Jenkinson and Wilfred Zaha, or still inexperienced, like Jack Wilshere, Huddlestone and Daniel Sturridge, Gerrard ‘s leadership would have been an asset in closing the game out. In all, it was barely a friendly that did n’t mean much, except to be a thousand juncture to open Sweden ‘s modern national stadium. But Gerrard ‘s hundredth cap deserved better, particularly with the operation he put in .