Sweden beats Croatia 3-1 in international friendly

Sweden beats Croatia 3-1 in international friendly

Published Feb. 29, 2012 9:58 p.m. ET

Zlatan Ibrahimovic converted a penalty and helped Sebastian Larsson score twice for Sweden to beat Croatia 3-1 in an international friendly on Wednesday.

Ibrahimovic scored from the spot in the 13th minute after goalkeeper Stipe Pletiskosa had fouled Rasmus Elm in the box.

Croatia leveled just before halftime with an own goal from Sweden defender Jonas Olsson, his header sending the ball looping over goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson and into an empty net.

Sweden scored again in the first minute of the second half. Ibrahimovic's attempted pass was deflected by Pletikosa to Sebastian Larsson, who found the net.

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Larsson scored again in the 69th minute, converting another great pass from by Ibrahimovic.

''The only good thing is that this is only the beginning of the year,'' Croatia defender Domagoj Vida said. ''I hope we will wake up in time for the European Championship.''

Croatia coach Slaven Bilic picked the same team that clinched a place at Euro 2012 by beating Turkey 3-0 in a playoff. But the hosts seemed disorganized against a confident Sweden side.

Sweden was without defender Daniel Majstorovic, who tore a knee ligament during training and is likely to miss the rest of the season.

Croatia defender Vedran Corluka was replaced in the 29th minute because of a leg injury.

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Lineups:

Croatia: Stipe Pletikosa, Josip Simunic, Vedran Corluka (Danijel Pranjic, 29), Ivan Rakitic, Luka Modric (Ognjen Vukojevic, 73), Darijo Srna, Gordon Schildenfeld, Domagoj Vida (Ivan Perisic, 67), Tomislav Dujmovic (Niko Kranjcar, 46), Mario Mandzukic (Eduardo da Silva, 46), Ivica Olic (Nikica Jelavic, 46).

Sweden: Andreas Isaksson, Andreas Granqvist, Olof Mellberg, Jonas Olsson, Martin Olsson, Rasmus Elm (Samuel Holmen, 46), Kim Kallstrom (John Guidetti, 46), Anders Svensson, Ola Toivonen (Emir Bajrami, 74), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Tobias Hysen, 85), Johan Elmander (Sebastian Larsson, 46).

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