World Cup 2018: 5 memorable matches between England and Sweden

#5: England 3-2 Sweden – Euro 2012

After failing to pick up a win over Sweden since 1968, England finally managed to get one over on their so-called “bogey side” in the group stage of Euro 2012, coming from behind to win 3-2 in what unexpectedly turned out to be one of the most exciting games of the tournament. In hindsight, it could easily be argued that this victory was the high point of Roy Hodgson’s time in charge of the Three Lions.

Without the suspended Wayne Rooney, Hodgson decided to plan against Sweden’s physical style by fighting fire with fire – introducing powerful forward Andy Carroll for the first time in the tournament. It was a plan that almost immediately worked, as Carroll scored with a towering header from a Steven Gerrard cross to put England into the lead after 23 minutes.

England held onto the lead into the second half, but were then undone by their own gameplan – balls into the penalty box. Firstly a Zlatan Ibrahimovic free-kick that hit the wall was fired back into the box, and the loose ball fell to Olof Mellberg, who poked it home. And just ten minutes later it was Mellberg who hit England with another suckerpunch, heading in from a free-kick after some sloppy marking.

There looked to be no way back for Hodgson’s side, but surprisingly he rolled the dice and brought on speedy substitute Theo Walcott – and almost immediately he made a difference, equalising in an almost flukey way – the ball came to him on the edge of the box and he hit a swerving, dipping shot that fooled keeper Andreas Isaksson and found its way into the net.

With England suddenly back in the game, they began to push for the winner, and it was Walcott who was the key again. He darted between two defenders and into the penalty area, and sent over a cross that was backheeled into the net by Danny Welbeck. England finally had their victory – and had apparently broken the curse against one of their trickier opponents over the years.