'북유럽의 강호' 스웨덴이 막강 공격력을 선보이며 유로2004 첫승을 올렸다. 스웨덴은 15일(이하 한국시간) 새벽 펼쳐진 B조 예선 1차전 불가리아전에서 공격진들의 고른 활약에 힘입어 5-0대승을 이끌었다. 

Henrik Larsson (Sweden) celebrates goal
Henrik Larsson celebrates scoring his first goal of the match

전반 중반까지는 백중세. 스웨덴은 '돌아온 골잡이' 헨리크 라르손과 '차세대 에이스' 즐라탄 이브라히모비치 투톱을 내세우며 불가리아의 골문을 위협했고, 불가리아 역시 간판골잡이 디미타르 베르바토프를 앞세워 맞장구를 쳤다. 

승부의 균형이 깨진 것은 전반 32분. 이브라히모비치와 프레디 륭베리가 선취골을 합작하며 스웨덴이 환호성을 질렀다. 이브라히모비치는 불가리아 진영 깊숙히 날아오는 볼을 잡고 질풍같은 돌파를 시도한 다음, 골키퍼를 앞에 두고 옆쪽에 쇄도하던 륭베리에게 볼을 내줬다. 그리고 륭베리가 무인지경의 상태에서 볼을 가볍게 밀어넣으며 불가리아의 골네트를 갈랐다.(스웨덴 1-0 불가리아) 

Henrik Larsson (Sweden) scores
Henrik Larsson scores his first goal of the night

후반 중반 스웨덴은 '라르손 타임'으로 승부에 쐐기를 박았다. 12분 라르손은 륭베리의 우측 크로스를 그림같은 다이빙헤딩슛으로 연결하며 추가골을 올렸고(스웨덴 2-0 불가리아), 불과 1분 뒤 번개같은 왼발슛으로 골을 성공하며 사실상 승부를 갈랐다(스웨덴 3-0 불가리아). 2002한일월드컵 이후로 대표팀에서 은퇴했던 라르손이 복귀무대에서 화려하게 비상하는 순간이었다. 

승세를 굳힌 스웨덴은 놀라운 집중력을 발휘하며 골잔치를 이어갔다. 후반 33분 선취골의 주인공 륭베리가 좌측 돌파를 시도하며 페널티킥을 이끌어냈고, 이를 이브라히모비치가 깔끔하게 성공하며 팀의 4번째골을 터뜨렸다.(스웨덴 4-0 불가리아) 로스타임이 흐르던 후반 46분에는 교체투입된 마르쿠스 알배크가 오른발슛으로 마무리골을 작렬하며 대승을 자축했다.(스웨덴 5-0 불가리아) 

이날 불가리아에 대승을 거둔 스웨덴은 C조 1위로 나서며 8강진출에 유리한 고지를 선점했다. 반면에 불가리아는 예상외의 대패를 당하며 예선탈락의 위기에 놓이게 됐다. 

한편 앞서 열린 '아주리군단' 이탈리아와 '바이킹의 후예' 덴마크의 경기는 헛심공방 끝에 무승부로 끝났다. 양 팀은 똑같이 12개의 슈팅 (유효슈팅-덴마크 <6개>, 이탈리아 <5개>)을 날렸으나 한 차례도 골문을 열지 못하고 0-0으로 승부를 마감했다. 

# 경기결과(15일-C조) 

· 이탈리아(1무) 0-0 덴마크(1무) 
· 스웨덴(1승) 5-0 불가리아(1패) 

스포츠서울닷컴

Larsson, recently persuaded to end two years of international retirement, claimed his double within 71 seconds early in the second half of Monday's match, the first a glorious diving header and the second a sliding lunge at the far post. 
 

Zoran Jankovic (Bulgaria) dejected
Zoran Jankovic dejected after a missed chance

"It went perfectly, I can't imagine a better way to make my comeback in a competitive match," Larsson told a news conference. 

"It was a virtually perfect performance in the second half and I can't remember a more enjoyable game I've played for Sweden." 

Midfielder Fredrik Ljungberg had given Sweden a deserved 32nd-minute lead, Zlatan Ibrahimovic added a fourth from the penalty spot before substitute Marcus Allback completed the rout in stoppage time. 

The victory, easily Sweden's biggest in the European Championship and equalling the highest winning margin in the tournament's 44-year history, gave them early control of Group C after Denmark and Italy drew 0-0. 

It also emphatically ended their curse of not winning an opening game in a major tournament, a run going back through eight competitions to the 1958 World Cup. 

FIRST BLOOD 

The margin was a little harsh on Bulgaria, who had early chances as they sought their first win over the Scandinavians in 10 games going back to 1967. 

The breakthrough came when midfielder Anders Svensson sent a long pass into the path of Ibrahimovic who crossed low for Ljungberg to touch in from point-blank range. 

Bulgaria were still very much in it early in the second half as striker Zoran Jankovich and the dangerous Martin Petrov went close but just as their hopes were rising, Larsson left them reeling. 

TEMPTING CROSS 

In the 57th minute, full back Erik Edman swung in a tempting cross from the left and the Celtic striker launched himself full length to head an early contender for goal of the tournament. 

Just over a minute later Svensson drove a low cross in from the right and Larsson arrived at the far post to steer the ball into the roof of the net. 

The Swedish fans roared their team forward to try to match their 4-0 success over Bulgaria in the 1994 World Cup third-place playoff, when Larsson also scored, and their wish was granted 12 minutes from time. 

Ljungberg was brought down in the box by Vladimir Ivanov but Larsson turned down the chance of his hat-trick by handing the ball to Ibrahimovic, who lashed in the penalty. 

"I gave the ball to Zlatan to take the penalty because it's very good for the team for all the strikers to score goals. We had three strikers who all scored and that's good," Larsson said. 

The Swedes were attacking at will by then and capped a memorable night when Allback sprung the offside trap to gleefully lash in the fifth. 

It was only the fourth time a European Championship match had been won by a five-goal margin but Bulgaria coach Plamen Markov thought the scoreline was harsh on his team. 

"It was an even first half and although we were 1-0 down at halftime I was pleased with the way my team played," he said. 

"But in the second half Sweden scored twice very quickly and then took control and kept it easily until the end. 

"I've said many times that Larsson is a big player, if he had not played tonight it would have been different." 

Sweden now face a stiffer task when they take on Italy in Porto on Friday, while Bulgaria must lift themselves for their game against Denmark in Braga earlier on the same day.