Belgium have defeated Sweden in the opening game of Euro 2000 in Brussels tonight. The game was a dour, often clumsy affair with a Belgian side more willing to attempt football coming through deserved winners on a 2-1 scoreline. The opening 40 minutes were generally without incident as the championships got off to a less that dramatic start but finally the deadlock was broken and the boredom shattered on 43 minutes when Bart Goor knocked the ball from a flailing Patrick Andersson and struck confidently past Magnus Hedman.
Emile Mpenza made it 2-0 within a minute of the second half to put more daylight between the sides but ‘keeper Filip de Wilde made the second half seem all the longer for the home side when he failed to clear a back pass and let Johan Mjallby through for an easy finish. A generally poor evening was capped off for Swedish skipper Andersson when he was sent to the line with 10 minutes remaining.
Celtic striker Henrik Larsson did make an appearance for Sweden during that second half but did not look 100% fit in his first international outing since breaking his leg in the early rounds of the Uefa Cup. The home side can now look forward to ties with Italy and Turkey with further hope of qualifying while the Swedes are left with an uphill battle all the way.
There was no hint of trouble at the game, with little expected of both sets of supporters except some good natured fun.
Hard-hitting tactics have been promised by police in the two host nations, who have said they will meet violence with violence. Initial signs on a clampdown were in evidence yesterday when three News of the World journalists were arrested while photographing each other holding Knives they had just bought in Brussels. Belgian authorities were considering whether or not to prosecute on charges of intending to incite violence but have released the three without charge. The reporters were working on a story about "widespread availability of lethal weapons on the eve of Euro 2000".
Meanwhile Alan Shearer trained with England this morning to dispel fears that he might not play in his side's opening fixture against Portugal. It now seems that the England captain will line out alongside Michael Owen in Kevin Keegan's strike force.
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