Sweden beat Denmark 2-1 in first leg of Euro play-off tie

Nicklas Bendtner is pleased Denmark have a fighting chance of reaching Euro 2016 after they struck late in Saturday’s 2-1 qualifying play-off loss to Sweden.

But it was the comparatively unheralded Forsberg – who plies his trade with RB Leipzig in Germany’s 2.Bundesliga – who found the breakthrough with a crisp finish on the stroke of half-time.

The right-back set up Emil Forsberg for Sweden’s opener.

With the outside of the Friends Arena lit up in the red, white and blue colours of the French flag, a minute’s silence for the victims of Friday’s Paris attacks was observed before the game.

The hosts’ centre-back Mikael Antonsson limped out of the action due to an apparent hip problem after 30 minutes to be replaced by Erik Johansson.

Berg went wide of the target on the half-hour mark after being released by a fine pass from Ibrahimvic who was furious that he did not receive a return pass.

Another powerful Ibrahimovic hit was enough to beat Schmeichel’s dive from 12 yards.

Ibrahimovic made it 2-0 five minutes into the second period, converting a penalty after Thomas Kahlenburg had clumsily tripped Forsberg.

“That goal could become a really, really important goal”, Denmark coach Morten Olsen said.

He had the ball in the net again shortly afterwards too but was correctly ruled offside.

“Then you get a goal against, but ultimately it’s all about results”.

Meanwhile, in Lviv, a dominant Ukraine ensured a two-goal adavantage over Slovenia ahead of the second-leg clash on Tuesday.

But with 10 minutes left, substitute Jorgensen latched onto a Yussuf Poulsen flick-on from an Eriksen corner to boost Denmark’s hopes of making the finals in France next summer. Please note that comments are automatically checked for inappropriate language and will be removed accordingly.