Gunnar Nordahl is the UFWC’s all-time leading goalscorer, scoring 29 goals in 19 UFWC title matches. The centre-forward was the most prolific of Sweden and AC Milan’s brilliant ‘Gre-No-Li’ trio, alongside Gunnar Gren and Nils Leidholm. Born in 1920, Nordahl scored an amazing 44 goals in 30 games for Sweden, before his club move to Milan led to his premature international retirement. At club level he became AC Milan’s all-time top scorer, netting 210 league goals in eight seasons. He was the top scorer in Serie A five times, and remains the league’s all-time second highest scorer. Nordahl died in 1995. See a full run-down of Nordahl’s UFWC games and goals here.

Hall of Fame Sweden

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.

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 substitute keeper Michel 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

Match Reports Netherlands, Sweden

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.

Match Previews Netherlands, Sweden

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.

Match Reports Portugal, Sweden