NETHERLANDS 3-1 SWEDEN, Amsterdam 19/11/08
Van Persie 32, 48, Kuyt 90+2 - Kallstrom 49

The Netherlands are the new UFWC champions after Robin van Persie scored twice to see off Sweden in Amsterdam.

The Dutch lined up with reserve goalkeeper Henk Timmer between the posts, and Ryan Babel and Dirk Kuyt in attack, with Maarten Stekelenburg, Arjen Robben and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar injured.

Swedish striker Zlatan Irahimovic was rested, with Marcus Berg joining Henrik Larsson up front.

The game took a half hour to get warmed up, with Mark van Bommel having a goal disallowed for offside just moments before van Persie broke the deadlock. The Arsenal striker was unmarked as he headed home a Wesley Sneijder corner after 32 minutes.

Three minutes into the second half van Persie made it two, netting from Rafael van der Vaart's lay-off. The Dutch had replaced keeper Timmer at the break, but there was nothing substitute Michel Vorm could do about van Persie's shot.

Sweden should have been dead and buried, but instead they immediately hit back. Lyon's Kim Kallstrom played a quick one-two with Sebastian Larsson and hit a powerful long range shot that flew too easily over the hapless Vorm.

The Dutch, however, remained on top, and had several chances to increase their lead. As it was, Sweden held out until injury time, when Kuyt headed in a Tim de Cler cross to make the final score 3-1.

International football and the UFWC now takes a winter break. The next title match will be on 11 February 2009, when the Netherlands will travel to Tunisia. If the Dutch can retain the title in that match, their next game will be a clash against UFWC All-Time Champions Scotland...

Netherlands: Timmer (Vorm 46); Heitinga (Mendes Da Silva 78), Ooijer, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst (De Cler 46); De Zeeuw (Van der Vaart 46), Van Bommel; Van Persie, Sneijder (Engelaar 74), Babel (Afellay 64); Kuyt

Sweden: Isaksson; Nilsson, Majstorovic, Hansson (Granqvist 80), Safari (Stoor 46); Wilhelmsson (S. Larsson 46), D. Andersson (Kallstrom 46), Lindgren, Holmen (V. Elm 77); H. Larsson (Rosenberg 46), Berg

Labels: match report

NETHERLANDS vs SWEDEN, Amsterdam, 19/11/08

The Netherlands, some say Holland, will be without several key players as they attempt to wrestle the UFWC title away from Sweden in this friendly clash. Ajax hitman Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is missing with a torn left ankle ligament, while Real Madrid's Arjen Robben has a thigh injury. Dirk Kuyt, who has scored five goals in seven league appearances for Liverpool this season, will battle it out with clubmate Ryan Babel and Arsenal's Robin van Persie for the striking roles.

Dutch Coach Bert van Marwijk has another headache in the goalkeeping position, with Edwin van der Sar now retired from international football, and Feyenoord's Henk Timmer struggling with a finger injury. FC Utrecht rookie Michel Vorm might get a start. Nigel de Jong, Dirk Marcellis and Maarten Stekelenburg will all miss the game.

Sweden will be without stat striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, after coach Lars Lagerback decided to give him a break. 'Zlatan has played two matches per week during a long period,' said Lagerback. Olof Mellberg will also be rested. Johan Elmander and Tobias Linderoth are both injured.

The last two meetings between the sides were in 2004. A Euro 2004 Quarter Final match ended 0-0 after extra time, with the Netherlands winning 5-4 on penalties. Two months later, the sides drew 2-2 in a friendly in Solna.

The Netherlands are currently ranked 5th in the UFWC All-Time rankings, having won 44 title matches. Sweden are 10th, having won 27.

Labels: match preview

SWEDEN 0-0 PORTUGAL, Solna, 11/10/08

This UFWC title match and WC qualifier ended goalless despite decent chances for both sides. Lars Lagerbeck and Carlos Queiroz were both struggling with depleted squads for this game. Sweden were missing Henrik Larsson, Erik Edman, Olof Mellberg, Anders Svensson, Christian Wilhelmsson and Tobias Linderoth, while Portugal had to do without Maniche, Deco, Simao Sabrosa, Ricardo Carvalho, Pedro Mendes and Miguel Veloso.

Bolton's Johan Elmander took advantage of the absences to turn in an eye-catching performance - going close to breaking the deadlock five times in the first half, as Sweden dominated.

Portugal's best chance of the first half fell to Cristiano Ronaldo, but the Manchester United star, booed throughout the game, blasted his shot high and wide. Perhaps he had one eye on the stands: "It was very good to play here, good atmosphere," he said. "There were beautiful people in the crowd."

Portugal improved in the second half, with Joao Moutinho shooting narrowly wide and Raul Meireles forcing a good save from Swedish keeper Andreas Isaksson.

Stand-in skipper Zlatan Ibrahimovic almost grabbed a late winner for Sweden in the 78th minute, but his left-footed drive was tipped away by humorously-named Portugal goalkeeper Quim.

"Sweden played better than us in the first half," said Ronaldo. "In the second, I think Portugal played better. I think the draw is a good result."

"I'm satisfied," said Ibrahimovic. "We should have won, but one point is better than no point."

Sweden retain the UFWC title, but fail to improve their all-time ranking score, with ranking points only awarded for title match victories.

Sweden's next match is a friendly in the Netherlands on 19 November. The Dutch are currently ranked 5th in the UFWC rankings, with 32 title match wins to 10th-place Sweden's 26.



Sweden: Andreas Isaksson, Mikael Nilsson, Daniel Majstorovic, Petter Hansson, Behrang Safari, Sebastian Larsson, Kim Kallstrom, Daniel Andersson, Samuel Holmen, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Johan Elmander.

Portugal: Quim, Jose Bosingwa, Pepe, Bruno Alves, Paulo Ferreira, Joao Moutinho, Fernando Meira, Raul Meireles, Nani (Danny 86), Hugo Almeida (Ricardo Quaresma, 65), Cristiano Ronaldo.

Labels: match report

SWEDEN vs PORTUGAL, Solna, 11/10/08

Both Sweden and Portugal are facing injury nightmares ahead of Saturday's UFWC / WC Qualifying clash.

The latest addition to the big match injury list is Sweden's still-influential captain Henrik Larsson, after the 37-year-old Helsingborg striker injured a thigh in training. 'I don't think I've ever had this kind of injury situation,' said coach Lars Lagerback. The Swedes are already without defenders Erik Edman and Olof Mellberg, and midfielders Anders Svensson, Christian Wilhelmsson and Tobias Linderoth.

Portugal boss Carlos Queiroz will be without midfielders Maniche and Deco, who were both called up despite suffering from injuries. Neither will have recovered in time for the game. Simao Sabrosa, Ricardo Carvalho, Pedro Mendes and Miguel Veloso are all already out. However, Queriroz can recall his former Manchester United charge Cristiano Ronaldo.

The two sides last met in Coimbra in 2004, in a friendly that finished 2-2. Sweden are currently ranked ninth in the all-time UFWC table, having won 26 title matches. Portugal have a poor record in the UFWC, having won only 2 title matches - the last of which was in 1992. FIFA, however, rank Portugal at 10 and Sweden at 26 in their rankings.

Recent form would place Portugal as favourites, but Sweden have home advantage. However, the absence of Larsson may prove crucial.

Labels: match preview

SWEDEN 2-1 HUNGARY, Solna, 11/09/08
Kallstrom 55, Holmen 64, Rudolf 90

Sweden are the new UFWC Champions, having defeated Hungary 2-1 in this World Cup Qualifier.

The Swedes were booed from the pitch after a disappointing first half, but recovered to win, largely thanks to the efforts of veteran striker Henrik Larsson. The 37-year-old skipper, playing his 101st game for his country, set up both goals - the first for Kim Kallstrom in the 55th minute. Lyon midfielder Kallstrom started the move, sending Larsson away down the left wing, and continuing his run into the box to head home Larsson's cross from close range.

Next Larsson set up Samuel Holmen, who slotted the ball past Hungary keeper Gabor Babos in the 64th minute.

An unimpressive Hungary stumbled across a consolation goal with the very last touch of the game, with substitute Gergely Rudolf chesting the ball into the Swedish net, and the referee immediately blowing the full-time whistle without restarting play.

Sweden have excellent UFWC form - this was the country's 26th UFWC title match victory, and they are ranked 9th overall. However, the Swedes have plummeted in FIFA's word rankings over the last three years, dropping from the top 10 to 31st.

Sweden's first defence of their title this time around will be against Portugal in Solna on 11 October 2008. The last match between the two nations, in 2004, resulted in a 2-2 draw, but Portugal won the previous match, in Gothenburg in 2002, 3-2. Portugal have only ever won two UFWC title matches, but have been a regular fixture in FIFA's top ten ranked teams in the world for the last four years. Sweden have home advantage and the UFWC title, but Portugal have recent form.

Sweden: Andreas Isaksson, Olof Mellberg, Daniel Majstorovic, Petter Hansson, Mikael Nilsson, Sebastian Larsson, Kim Kallstrom, Daniel Andersson, Samuel Holmen, Henrik Larsson, Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Markus Rosenberg, 81).

Hungary: Gabor Babos, Roland Juhasz, Vilmos Vanczak, Zoltan Szelesi, Zoltan Gera, Tamas Hajnal, Pal Dardai (Gergely Rudolf, 70), Krisztian Vadocz, Boldizsar Bodor (Balazs Dzsudzsak, 80), Sandor Torghelle, Szabolcs Huszti.

Labels: match report