“노장은 강했다” 

Sweden's Frederik Ljungberg (right) eludes Belgium's Gert Verhayen during the opening match of Euro 2000. AP  
  
본선 참가국중 28.27세로 최고령팀 벨기에가 새천년 첫 유럽축구선수권대회 (EURO2000) 개막전을 승리로 장식, 홈 팬들에 귀중한 첫승을 선사했다. 

벨기에는 11일새벽(이하 한국시간) 브뤼셀 킹 보두앵구장에서 열린 스웨덴과의 경기에서 공격수 고르(26·안데르레흐트)와 에밀 음펜자(21·샬케04)의 연속골로 비알비(28·셀틱)가 한골을 만회한데 그친 스웨덴을 2-1로 격파했다. 

이로써 벨기에는 앞으로 2경기중 1승만 추가하면 8강에 오르는 유리한 고지를 점령했다. 

양팀 모두 4-4-2 공격으로 맞선 경기에서 전반 시작하자마자 k.안데르센의 위력적인 강슛을 시작으로 주도권을 잡은 스웨덴은 벨기에 문전을 위협했다. 

이렇다할 공격루트를 찾지 못했던 벨기에는 전반10분 이후부터 오른쪽 윙플레이가 살아나 여러차례 위협적인 슛으로 맞섰다. 

전반 종료 3분전 벨기에는 왼쪽 전방에서 공을 잡고 공격하던 고르가 스웨덴 수비수 맞고 나온 공을 다시잡아 왼발 강슛으로 골네트를 갈랐다. 

벨기에는 또 후반 시작하자마자 에밀 음펜자가 아크 왼쪽에서 멋진 가슴 트래핑에 이은 오른발 강슛으로 추가골을 터트렸다. 

스웨덴은 공격수 비알비가 후반8분 벨기에 골키퍼 필립 데빌레가 볼 트래핑을 실수하자 이를 가로채 한골을 만회하고, 이후 총공세를 펼치며 줄기차게 벨기에 문전을 두드렸으나 골을 추가하지 못했다. 

또 스웨덴은 후반36분 경고누적으로 p.안데르손이 퇴장당해 끝내 무릎을 꿇었다. 

국제축구연맹(FIFA)랭킹 30위인 벨기에는 이날 승리로 13번 대결한 A매치(국제경기) 역대 전적에서도 6승2무5패로 앞서 나갔다. 

벨기에는 오는 14일 같은장소에서 강호 이탈리아와의 조별리그 2차전과 19일 터키와의 일전을 남겨두게 됐다. 

한편 벨기에-네덜란드에서 사상 처음 공동개최한 이번 대회에는 16개국 395명의 내노라하는 스타들이 참가, 조별리그를 거쳐 상위 1,2위팀이 8강에 올라 토너먼트 대결로 챔피언을 가린다. 지난 96EURO대회에서는 ‘전차군단’독일이 체코를 격파하고 정상을 차지했었다. 
 

Belgium's 2-1 victory over Sweden in the opening game of the European Championship was just what the hosts, the organizers and UEFA wanted. 

Bart Goor and Emile Mpenza scored either side of halftime to give co-host Belgium a dream start to the European Championship on Saturday as the Red Devils beat Sweden 2-1 in the opening game. 

Not even an embarrassing blunder by Belgian goalkeeper Filip de Wilde, who gifted a goal back to the Swedes when he trod on the ball, could halt the celebrations at the King Baudouin stadium. 

"It made victory all the sweeter," the veteran keeper said afterwards. 

Goor fired the home team ahead two minutes before half time and Mpenza added the second just fter the interval as the Belgians took control of the game. De Wilde's calamitous error allowed Johan Mjallby to roll the ball into an empty net to briefly silence the Belgian fans in the 52nd minute. 

"In the end, we got the victory with our spirit," said Goor. "The goals could not have come at a better time." 

But Robert Waseige's team fully deserved its victory and the so often underachieving Belgians were saluted by their fans as they celebrated going straight to the top of Group B. That could change when Italy and Turkey play in Arnhem on Sunday. 

Sweden's dismay at losing became even more sour when they lost captain Patrick Andersson, who was ejected for his second yellow card nine minutes from the end. 

The expectant crowd, which included King Albert of Belgium and Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, saw 15 minutes of entertaining action before the game degenerated into a patternless exchange of misplaced passes and clumsy ball control. 

Yet the Swedes opened brightly and frightened the home team with Kennet Andersson's height and Jorgen Petterson's pace and could easily have taken the lead in the first five minutes. 

After Patrick Andersson's low free kick was deflected wide, Belgian defender Lorenzo Staelens almost lobbed the ball over his own keeper under pressure from Kennet Andersson. Then the lanky Kennet Andersson headed Petterson's corner just wide of the post. 

At the other end, Branko Strupar struck first a left foot over the bar from the edge of the box for Belgium's first real strike at goal. 

When Patrick Andersson slipped, Emile Mpenza was set free to race down the right in the 29th minute but the Belgians failed to take advantage. 

Strupar went on another run six minutes later but his low shot was straight at keeper. But the Belgians were growing in confidence and had a great chance when Ljungberg was caught out of position on the left and Gert Verheyen's right wing cross came to Mpenza. With two other Belgians at the far post in support, he headed over from six meters. 

As the Swedes threatened again, Ljungberg found space to run at a retreating Belgian defense and his well struck low shot from 20 meters was firmly held by De Wilde at the foot of the post. 

A minute later the Belgians scored the first goal of the championship when Joachim Bjorklund carelessly gave the ball away just outside his area and Goor charged clear to shoot past the stranded Hedman to send the home fans wild. 

A minute before the half time break came the first yellow card of the champion with Patrick Andersson clattered into Mpenza near the corner flag. 

It got worse for the Swedes early in the second half when Strupar, who was becoming more of an influence on the game, neatly flicked a short inside pass to Mpenza who pounced on the ball and drove it past Hedman for No. 2. 

The Swedes responded by sending on Henrik Larsson for his first competitive game since breaking his leg 8 months ago. But it was a huge stroke of luck that brought the visitor's 52nd minute goal. 

Belgian defender Philippe Leonard sent a simple back pass to goalkeeper De Wilde who trod on the ball and lost control, leaving Mjallby with the simple task of walking it into an empty net. 

"I tried to control the ball and that clearly went awry," De Wilde said. 

"If someone ever saw the world collapsing, well, that was it. But it was good that I was able to turn the switch back on immediately. 

"I thought to myself, 'Things like that happen' but I was able to turn the knob around. I have learned to move on. Thankfully, we had a 2-0 lead. It was a very important victory. 

"A lot of people saw that," the 'keeper said in reference to his blunder. "But, on the other hand, they also saw a good Filip De Wilde." 

He immediately atoned for his blunder minutes later by racing out of goal as Ljungberg ran clear of the defense to force the Arsenal midfielder's goalbound shot wide of the post. 

Lineups: 

Belgium - Filip De Wilde; Eric Deflandre (Jacky Peeters, 88th), Lorenzo Staelens, Joos Valgaeren, Philippe Leonard (Nico van Kerckhoven, 72nd); Gert Verheyen, Marc Wilmots, Yves Vanderhaeghe, Bart Goor; Branko Strupar (Luc Nilis 68th), Emile Mpenza. 

Sweden - Magnus Hedman; Roland Nilsson, Patrick Andersson, Joachim Bjorklund, Johan Mallby, Fredrik Ljungberg, Jorgen Pettersson, Niclas Alexandersson, Olof Mellberg, Daniel Andersson (Yksel Osmanovski 68th), Kennet Andersson. 

Referee: Markus Merk, Germany.