• Euro 2012

Swedes accuse England of arrogance

ESPN staff
June 14, 2012
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is expected to recover from a thigh problem to face England © PA Photos
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Sweden vice-captain Anders Svensson says arrogance is behind England's poor record in matches against his country.

Until a narrow win against the Swedes in a Wembley friendly towards the end of last year, England had not chalked up a victory against them since 1968 - a run including four defeats.

Speaking as Sweden prepared for what he described as a "win or die" Group D clash between the teams in Kiev, midfielder Svensson said the two nations were now footballing equals.

The former Southampton player said: "I just think maybe you think you are a little bit better than you are - but we are a little bit better than you think we are.

"Obviously, you have big names, big players. You have a great team, but I think you don't think that much about the Swedish team and never have. We are a good team, on the same level as England, and have been for a long time."

Svensson denied there was unrest in the Swedish camp after reports suggested Zlatan Ibrahimovic had voiced anger at some team-mates following defeat in the opening game against Ukraine. "There was no frustration from any player," he said. "There was no problem at all."

But the Ukraine result has piled the pressure on Sweden, and Svensson admitted: "I think we need to win against England to go forward. It will be win or die. It's two knockout games [remaining]."

Ibrahimovic, who now occupies a deeper playmaking role for his country, suffered a thigh injury but is expected to return against England.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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