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Ibra feeling ‘good’ after winning Sweden return, Germany stage rights
protest
PARIS, March 26, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Zlatan Ibrahimovic made a winning return to
international football with Sweden on Thursday after nearly five years away
as Germany came out for human rights in their opening qualifier for the 2022
World Cup in Qatar.
Ibrahimovic set up Viktor Claesson’s 35th-minute winner in the 1-0 win over
Georgia at the Friends Arena just outside Stockholm in his 117th appearance
for his national team, his first since Euro 2016.
The AC Milan forward had to hold back the tears as he spoke to reporters on
Monday about his international comeback, and he was in good spirits after a
win that puts Sweden top of Group B.
“It felt good. It felt like it was my first international match. It was a
lot of adrenaline,” Ibrahimovic told Sverige Radio.
Sweden lead their group two points ahead of Greece and Spain, who played
out a surprising 1-1 draw in Granada.
Alvaro Morata opened the scoring with a superb control and finish from
Koke’s clipped pass in the 33rd minute.
But the Greeks levelled through their only shot of the entire match,
Anastasios Bakasetas’ penalty in the 57th minute after Inigo Martinez fouled
Giorgios Masouras.
“I don’t like the result and we weren’t inspired either… Whenever we got
near the Greek penalty area we lacked sharpness and efficacy,” said Spain
coach Luis Enrique.
– Germans join ‘rights’ protest –
Germany lined up with T-shirts that spelled out “human rights” ahead of
their 3-0 Group J win over Iceland amid concerns over alleged human rights
abuses in Qatar, the controversial hosts of next year’s finals.
On Monday, Amnesty International said “thousands of migrant workers
continue to be exploited and abused” in stadium construction despite labour
reforms put in place by Doha since the country was awarded the tournament.
“We have the World Cup coming up and there will be discussions about it…
we wanted to show we are not ignoring that,” goalscorer Leon Goretzka told
broadcaster RTL.
“We have a large reach — and we can use it to set an example for the
values we want to stand for. That was clear.”
Once on the pitch Joachim Loew’s side got off to a rapid start, with
Goretzka and Kai Havertz firing the hosts into a two-goal lead inside seven
minutes.
Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan continued his fine recent goalscoring
form, collecting the ball 10 minutes after the break and drilling home a low
shot.
– Italy enjoy comeback –
First-half goals from Domenico Berardi and Ciro Immobile were enough for
Italy to ease past the Northern Ireland 2-0 in their first World Cup match
since their humiliating failure to qualify for the 2018 tournament in Russia.
Berardi scored his fourth goal in five internationals after racing through
to meet Alessandro Florenzi’s defence-splitting pass before lashing the
opener past Bailey Peacock-Farrell from a tight angle.
Immobile doubled the hosts’ lead in Parma by ending a rapid counter-attack
with a near-post shot that squeezed home, and despite an improved second-half
performance from the away side Italy easily held on for the win.
They sit second in Group C, level on points with Switzerland who beat
Bulgaria 3-1.
James Ward-Prowse and Ollie Watkins scored their first international goals
as England thumped San Marino 5-0, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin hitting a brace
and stand-in captain Raheem Sterling also netting in a comfortable win.
Robert Lewandowski struck with seven minutes remaining in Budapest to earn
Poland a late point in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Hungary.
The visitors had already come back once from two goals down to level when
Willi Orban put the hosts ahead again in the 78th minute.
But Bayern striker Lewandowski lashed home his side’s second leveller five
minutes later to earn a point.
John McGinn’s stunning overhead kick five minutes from time rescued
Scotland from a losing start to their campaign in an entertaining 2-2 draw
with Austria.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1115 hrs