Sweden 0-1 Belgium
- Published
Radja Nainggolan's superb 25-yard strike secured Belgium's place in the last 16 of Euro 2016 and knocked out Sweden, bringing to an end Zlatan Ibrahimovic's international career.
Victory in Nice meant Belgium finished as Group E runners-up and will face Hungary in Toulouse on Sunday.
Sweden exited the competition with one point from three games in which Ibrahimovic failed to score.
The Republic of Ireland qualified in third thanks to a 1-0 win over Italy., external
More to come from Belgium?
It seemed Belgium might start matching the expectations around their talented squad with a 3-0 win over the Republic, external on Saturday.
But they laboured to a win against a Sweden side that have been toothless throughout the campaign.
Roma midfielder Nainggolan's 84th-minute swerving right-footed finish, angled into the bottom-left corner via a slight deflection, was a moment of high quality.
However, a starting XI that featured six Premier League players and featured just one change from the win over the Republic lacked decisiveness in the attacking third of the pitch.
Kevin de Bruyne was the most industrious option for Marc Wilmots' team, providing the cross for Thomas Meunier to flash a header wide and putting through Romelu Lukaku for a one-on-one chance which the Everton striker squandered - but they still have plenty of room for improvement.
Zlatan bows out with a whimper
Ibrahimovic had 56 touches - many of which were in attacking positions - but failed to influence the game
This was probably Sweden's most effective performance of the tournament - they mustered four shots on target, having not registered a single one in the previous two games.
They were unlucky not to lead minutes before Nainggolan's winner, when Andreas Granqvist's header was cleared off the line by De Bruyne.
But Sweden finished bottom of the group with one point, an unfitting way to end the international career of 116-time capped Ibrahimovic, the country's record goal scorer.
The 34-year-old, a reported target for Manchester United after he left Paris St-Germain this summer, announced this week he would retire from Sweden duty.
He failed to add to his 62 international goals and did not register a shot on target until this final group game.
His own frustrations were echoed by Sweden, who did not see one of their own players find the net in the tournament - their only goal was scored by the Republic's Ciaran Clark in the opening 1-1 draw.
Man of the match - Kevin de Bruyne (Belgium)
The Manchester City midfielder was at the heart of Belgium's best moments and looks much more comfortable in a central role rather than out wide
What's next?
Belgium take on Group F winners Hungary, who were involved in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Portugal on Wednesday, at the Stadium Municipal on Sunday (kick-off 20:00 BST).
Sweden return home to start life without Ibrahimovic, as well as influential goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson, who is also retiring.
The stats you need to know
Radja Nainggolan's goal was his fifth for Belgium and his first since October 2015
Belgium won back-to-back games at the European Championships for the first time
Sweden have lost six of their past eight games at the European Championships (W1 D1). They have also kept only one clean sheet in that run
Sweden had only four shots on target at Euro 2016, the fewest of any side
Marcus Berg's fifth-minute shot was Sweden's first on target at Euro 2016, in their third game
- Published23 June 2016
- Published22 June 2016
- Published22 June 2016
