Gomez, Ozil strike for Germany
Ibrahimovic scores hat-trick for Sweden in Euro qualifiers.
BAKU:
Germany went 10 points clear at the top of their Euro 2012 qualifying group as stars Mario Gomez and Mesut Ozil netted in a 3-1 win over Azerbaijan.
Now only a mathematical chance remains of Joachim Loew’s side failing to qualify for next year’s finals, to be hosted by Ukraine and Poland, as they picked up their seventh straight win in Group A.
Despite coming with a depleted squad, the Germans had enough young talent to comfortably see off Azerbaijan and at 27-years-old, captain Philipp Lahm was the oldest German on the pitch.
“Hard to believe that at 27, I was the oldest out there, but it shows the depth of young talent we have in the squad,” said Lahm, who earned his 80th cap.
Ibra’s treble routs Finland
Meanwhile, Zlatan Ibrahimovic came off the bench to score a hat-trick as Sweden routed Finland 5-0 in their Group E qualifier at the Rasunda stadium.
“It sounds really easy, it looks easy as well — but it wasn’t,” said Ibrahimovic of Sweden’s performance throughout the match.
“I think we’re getting better every time.”
The striker struck after the 31st minute, just six minutes after he entered the game. Sweden were already a goal up by then, Kim Kallstrom scoring after 12 minutes.
Ibrahimovic made it 2-0 when he swivelled to fire home first-time from close range.
He netted his second four minutes later and then rounded off his hat-trick early in the second-half of the match as he nodded home a free kick. Emir Bajrami rounded off a fine night for the Swedes with a fifth goal seven minutes from time.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 9th, 2011.
Germany went 10 points clear at the top of their Euro 2012 qualifying group as stars Mario Gomez and Mesut Ozil netted in a 3-1 win over Azerbaijan.
Now only a mathematical chance remains of Joachim Loew’s side failing to qualify for next year’s finals, to be hosted by Ukraine and Poland, as they picked up their seventh straight win in Group A.
Despite coming with a depleted squad, the Germans had enough young talent to comfortably see off Azerbaijan and at 27-years-old, captain Philipp Lahm was the oldest German on the pitch.
“Hard to believe that at 27, I was the oldest out there, but it shows the depth of young talent we have in the squad,” said Lahm, who earned his 80th cap.
Ibra’s treble routs Finland
Meanwhile, Zlatan Ibrahimovic came off the bench to score a hat-trick as Sweden routed Finland 5-0 in their Group E qualifier at the Rasunda stadium.
“It sounds really easy, it looks easy as well — but it wasn’t,” said Ibrahimovic of Sweden’s performance throughout the match.
“I think we’re getting better every time.”
The striker struck after the 31st minute, just six minutes after he entered the game. Sweden were already a goal up by then, Kim Kallstrom scoring after 12 minutes.
Ibrahimovic made it 2-0 when he swivelled to fire home first-time from close range.
He netted his second four minutes later and then rounded off his hat-trick early in the second-half of the match as he nodded home a free kick. Emir Bajrami rounded off a fine night for the Swedes with a fifth goal seven minutes from time.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 9th, 2011.