Five things we learned from Sweden vs England

No wonder they call the England-Sweden game one of the most exciting fixtures in the international calendar. The two nations were involved in the tournament’s best game thus far, as Danny Welbeck’s exquisite touch sealed a dramatic 3-2 win for England in Kyiv. Let’s look at five key take-aways from the Group D encounter.

Sweden are out

After France coasted past Ukraine in the opening game of the night, Sweden had their work cut out against England. It was do or die for the Swedes, as a defeat would have knocked them out of the competition. And that is exactly what happened. Despite battling hard and giving the Englishmen a run for their money, even leading the scoreboard at one stage of the match, the Swedes were unable to prevent England from grabbing a late winner. Sweden, hence, became the first side to crash out of the tournament.

Theo Walcott is England’s trump card

The Arsenal winger buried the ghosts of his previous international misadventures in a scintillating cameo for England. The 23-year old turned the match on his head after coming on as a substitute in the second half. He was lightning-quick on the right flank and the Swedish defense simply couldn’t cope with Walcott’s pace, running and movement. He pulled a rabbit out of the hat with a superbly executed right-footer from the outside the box which took a deflection on its way into the net. Theo then set up Danny Welbeck in what proved to be the deciding goal of the match.

He ran the Swedish defense ragged, and this display might prompt Roy Hodgson to play him in place of the off-color James Milner. If not, Walcott will remain Hodgson’s go-to man in dire circumstances and he might just revel in his new role as an impact substitute.

Danny Welbeck is the next big thing in English football

When Sir Alex Ferguson hails a young player as one the most promising and talented players in a football-crazy country, you’re bound to take notice. Welbeck, after a breakthrough season with his boyhood club Manchester United, got his international break in this Euro, partly owed to Wayne Rooney’s suspension. Super Dan, as he is sometimes referred to, scored a memorable late winner against Sweden to send his nation into frenzy and keep their hopes of advancing to the quarterfinals alive.

The execution of the goal was simply admirable. With his back to goal, Welbeck turned the ball with his heel into the net, to the amazement and bewilderment of the entire Swedish contingent present in the stadium. With Rooney slated for a return against Ukraine, this performance might just have guaranteed Welbeck a starting place alongside his club teammate in the final group game.

England’s fate lies in their own hands

With four points from two games and level with France, England will make or break their own destiny when they take on Ukraine in their final group game. A defeat to the hosts will send the Three Lions packing, a prospect which is sure to unsettle some nerves in the English camp. If they can manage a point from that game, they’ll do both themselves and France a favor. France will not have an easy outing against Sweden, who’ll have nothing to lose and will be playing with utmost freedom.

Problem of plenty for Roy Hodgson

England’s biggest global superstar, Wayne Rooney will be available for selection against Ukraine as he served out his ban after the Sweden game. With Andy Carroll and Danny Welbeck both getting on the scoresheet, Hodgson will have a crucial decision to make ahead of the decider. It’s almost impossible to leave out a player of Rooney’s caliber from the starting eleven, more so after a prolific season for his club. But it’s an equally harrowing prospect to ask a goal-scorer to sit out of the next fixture. Another decision to make will be the weighing of Carroll’s aerial threat against Welbeck’s all-round play. Who knows, Hodgson might just be forced to draft Rooney into the midfield hole, a position he has become proficient in over the course of the season gone by.