Henrik Larsson produced a finishing masterclass to condemn Bulgaria to a
crushing defeat as Sweden launched their Group C campaign in style.
The departing Celtic striker produced two moments of magic within as many
minutes to transform an even contest into one-sided affair by taking his tally
against the Bulgarians to seven in six appearances.
Fredrik Ljungberg had already edged the Swedes in front with a 32nd-minute
tap-in to shade a tight first half, but Larsson's brilliant diving header 12
minutes after the break gave them breathing space and a second exquisite finish
a minute later put them out of sight.
The 32-year-old still does not know where he will be playing his club football
next season after announcing his decision to leave Parkhead.
Barcelona yesterday became the 30th club to express an interest in acquiring
his services, but his performance here will have served simply to intensify the
race for his signature.
Ibrahimovic made it four with a 78th-minute penalty as the Swedish fans began
to party and substitute Marcus Allback added a fifth at the death after being
set up by Larsson, but the damage had been done long before as his side opened a
major tournament with a victory for the first time since the 1958 World Cup
finals.
The crushing defeat extended Bulgaria's miserable run against Sweden to eight
defeats and two draws in their last 10 meetings, and although they made a fist
of it until Larsson struck, they were ultimately soundly beaten.
It is now 10 years since the previously unheralded Bulgarians threatened to
upset the established order by finishing third at the 1994 World Cup with the
mercurial Hristo Stoichkov at the heart of their efforts, and that is a mantle
which has been assumed more recently by Celtic midfielder Stilian Petrov.
But if Plamen Markov's current crop do not perhaps enjoy the reputation of the
predecessors, they certainly play attractive football and were more than a match
for the Swedes in the opening 45 minutes.
The invention of Zoran Jankovich, playing behind lone striker Dimitar
Berbatov, represented a regular threat, and with good support from Martin Petrov
wide on the left, they played with endeavour and skill to keep the Swedish
defence on their toes.
Marian Hristov's seventh-minute penalty appeals were optimistic, but Jankovich
went just wide with a technically excellent volley nine minutes later and Martin
Petrov was unfortunate to see his low drive skid just outside Andreas Isaksson's
left post with 25 minutes gone.
Berbatov forced a fingertip save from Isaksson with a looping header two
minutes later, but although Bulgaria continued to threaten, the tide had already
started to turn.
Ivailo Petkov, Rossen Kirilov and Jankovich were all booked by English referee
Mike Riley inside five minutes and as Larsson and Ibrahimovic started to liven
up, the alarm bells were ringing.
The Celtic forward fired inches over after meeting Mikael Nilsson's
22nd-minute cross at full stretch, but the deadlock was broken 10 minutes
later.
Nilsson was the provider again, sliding the ball inside Petkov for Ibrahimovic
to spring the offside trap and head for goal before unselfishly squaring for
Ljungberg to tap home the opener.
If the Swedes left the pitch the happier, Bulgaria could hardly be unsatisfied
with their efforts, and both returned knowing that they were still very much in
a tight game.
However, that all changed within 13 minutes thanks to the brilliance of
Larsson.
Bulgaria had started the second half in determined fashion with Martin Petrov
firing just wide again, but after Ljungberg had failed to convert a 48th-minute
one-on-one with Zdravko Zdravkov after being played in by Ibrahimovic, Larsson
showed both men exactly how it is done.
There were 57 minutes on the clock when he dived at the far post to meet Erik
Edman's inviting cross with an emphatic header to make it 2-0.
But if that was a goal for the cameras, the one he collected a minute later
said everything about his technique.
Anders Svensson's ball sailed across goal and well wide of the far post, but
while many strikers might have took a wild swing at it, the man who has made
life amisery for defenders in Scotland for the last few years steered it with
power and accuracy into the roof of the net with his left foot to put the result
beyond any reasonable doubt.
The dispirited Bulgarians visibly wilted and might have fallen further behind
on 72 minutes when Ibrahimovic worked his way clear but he was denied by the
Zdravkov's bravery.
However, the respite was only temporary and after Ljungberg had been felled by
full-back Vladimir Ivanov, the Ajax striker made no mistake from the penalty
spot to make it 4-0.
There was still enough time for Allback to help himself to a fifth with injury
time running down as Sweden laid down their marker for the tournament.
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