Sweden Under-21s came from behind to claim a 2-1 victory over Italy Under-21s in their opening European Under-21 Championship match this evening.
Alexander Milosevic was sent off in the first half for Sweden after bringing down Andrea Belotti inside the box and Domenico Berardi stepped up to convert the resulting penalty kick.
After the break, John Guidetti equalised for the Swedes with a close-range finish, before an angry reaction from Stefano Sturaro saw the Italian midfielder sent off.
Sweden were then given a penalty after Mikael Ishak was fouled by Francesco Bardi inside the box and Isaac Kiese Thelin kept his composure to score from the spot and win the match for his side.
Find out how the action unfolded below.
Hello everyone! The European Under-21 Championships are up and running as we enter the second day of the tournament. Later today England and Portugal will be going head-to-head, but we start with the opening Group B clash, as Italy take on Sweden.
With just under half an hour to go until kick off, I think we should take a look at the players who will be starting at the Andruv stadion.
Perfect conditions in Olomouc for the Group B opener between @azzurri and Sweden #U21EURO. KO @18.00CET. pic.twitter.com/USMu4vDWeI
— UEFA Under-21 (@UEFAUnder21) June 18, 2015
ITALY XI: Bardi, Sabelli, Rugani, Bianchetti, Zappacosta, Viviani, Sturaro, Baselli, Battocchio, Belotti, Berardi
SWEDEN XI: Carlgren, Milosevic, Helander, Augustinsson, Baffo, Lewicki, Hiljemark, Khalili, Larsson, Guidetti, Kiese Thelin
There we have our starting lineups for today's clash. Sassuolo forward Domenico Berardi and Palermo's Andrea Belotti start in the attack and will be expected to provide the biggest threat for Italy. There is plenty of class in the midfield, with Stefano Sturaro and Daniele Baselli both playing, while Daniele Rugani and Matteo Bianchetti should form a strong partnership at the heart of the defence.
Meanwhile, Sweden boast two capable goalscorers in their ranks. John Guidetti, who had a successful spell at Celtic last season, will be looking to continue his fine form alongside Bordeaux's Isaac Kiese Thelin. The Swedes will be captained by Oscar Hiljemark, who won the league with PSV last season.
Italy actually made a shaky start to their qualifying campaign with a defeat in their opener to Belgium, but they eventually turned things around to tip Serbia to top spot in Group 9. It earned them a playoff against Slovakia, and they claimed a 1-1 draw away from home, before easing to a 3-1 win in the return meeting to seal their place at the tournament.
#U21EURO 2015: The #Azzurrini open against #Sweden at 18:00 CEST
#ForzaAzzurrini #VivoAzzurro @UEFAUnder21 pic.twitter.com/3kJu5DmUoL
— Italy (@azzurri) June 18, 2015
It was a little more complicated for Sweden, who edged out Greece by one point to top their qualifying group. A tricky playoff against France followed and they looked doomed after suffering a 2-0 defeat in the first leg. However, they stunned their opponents by running out 4-1 winners in the second leg, as a late goal from Oscar Lewicki booked their spot in the Czech Republic.
It's no surprise that the Italians are ranked among the favourites at the tournament, given the strength of their squad and the fact that they made the final last time around. They will be hoping to go one better, after losing 4-2 to Spain on that occasion in 2013.
They do have a great pedigree in the Championships and they are the most successful team, with five wins in their history. They last won it in 2004, when Daniele De Rossi and Alberto Gilardino scored in the final in a 3-0 win over Serbia and Montenegro.
Four years before that, they were victorious in the 2000 final, with a certain Andrea Pirlo scoring twice against Czech Republic in a 2-1 win. Sweden have never managed a victory in their seven appearances at the tournament, although they were runners up in 1992, losing the final to Italy.
We are sure to see plenty of quality from both teams, but the standout player must be Domenico Berardi. The 20-year-old enjoyed another great season at Sassuolo and bagged 15 goals in Serie A. He is co-owned by Juventus and there is talk that he will be joining the Bianconeri for good next season.
KICKOFF! We've just heard the national anthems from each team and now the action is finally underway at the Andruv stadion!
SHOT! Italy have made a dominant start and they get plenty of men forward for an early corner. Instead of being whipped into the box, it is floated out to Berardi on the edge of the box. The forward then meets it on the volley and makes decent contact, but his effort takes a couple of deflections before kindly going through to Carlgren.
Both teams still seem to be feeling their way into the match and we haven't seen too much in the way of chances from open play. Another feature that is emerging is the threat of Italy down the right, with Zappacosta trying his luck with a couple of lung-busting runs from the back.
As you would expect, Italy are controlling the possession and they are seeing plenty of the ball in the midfield. Berardi has also popped up in some dangerous areas and the Swedes certainly won't want him to be getting time and space in good areas.
The pressure is starting to mount now from the Azzurri and they are pegging their opponents back on the edge of their own box. They almost manage to get in behind from a flowing passing move, but as Viviani tries to get onto a flick over the top, he fouls his marker and the referee blows for a foul.
For the first time, Sweden show their attacking threat and they get a number of players in support from a fast break. The ball is eventfully slipped to Lewicki down the left, but his delivery into the box is far too strong and heads across the box without causing any problems.
It's very tight at the moment and there is not too much space for each team in the centre of the pitch. However, Italy almost manage to work an opening as Zappacosta tries to slide in Belotti, but his threaded pass is slightly too long for his teammate and runs through to the keeper.
SAVE! Italy almost take the lead from a complete fluke as Viviani overhits a cross from the left that ends up heading towards the top corner. Carlgren gets across his goal quickly and gets the slightest of fingertips on the ball to touch it over the bar, but it was not spotted by the referee who gives a goal kick.
YELLOW CARD! Helander picks up the first booking of the match for shoving Belotti to the ground.
RED CARD TO SWEDEN! It's disaster for Sweden, as Milosevic is shown a straight red card for bringing down Belotti inside the box. The Italian was through on goal and he can have no complaints, with the referee also awarding a penalty.
GOAL! Italy 1-0 Sweden (Domenico Berardi)
Berardi steps up to take the penalty and he makes no mistake with a low finish into the bottom corner that sends Carlgren the wrong way. Sweden will now have it all to do, as they attempt to come from behind with 10 men.
Sweden were not seeing too much of the ball before they conceded and they just can't get a touch now. They are being run ragged by the Italians, who have their heads up and are such a great side at taking full advantage from these situations.
It's still all Italy and they are playing some great football in their opponents' half of the pitch. They also manage to work another opening with Sabelli breaking free down the left and delivering a fine low ball across the box, but the defender had already been flagged for offside.
Berardi and Belotti have been linking up fantastically in the Azzurri attack and the latter is just inches away from getting onto his teammates through ball. They both had fine seasons with their clubs and I don't think it will be too long until we see them playing for the senior national team.
Sweden have already had a man sent off and they have had lucky escape here. Sturaro appears to be dragged down by Helander just outside the box as he looked to race onto a pass, but this time the referee waved play on. If there hadn't of already been a red card, then I think we would have seen one there.
YELLOW CARD! Viviani is the first Italian to go into the referee's notebook for a foul on Guidetti.
HALF-TIME: Italy 1-0 Sweden
No stoppage time is added on to the end of the first half and Italy take their lead into the break. Domenico Berardi scored from the spot after Alexander Milosevic had brought down Andrea Belotti inside the box, with the Swedish defender also picking up a red card in the process.
There can be no denying that Italy deserve to be in the lead after a commanding first-half display. They controlled the ball well and they looked far more of a threat in the attack. Berardi has also been great to watch and he could cause the Swedes a lot more problems in the second half.
It's hard to see how Sweden are going to get back into the match, as they have been outplayed for large spells. They haven't even managed a shot on goal and if Filip Helander had been cautioned for what looked to be a foul on Stefano Sturaro, they could even be down to nine men.
A moment to remember for Domenico Berardi #U21EURO pic.twitter.com/tzZpdyGcDM
— UEFA Under-21 (@UEFAUnder21) June 18, 2015
Let me remind you that we will be bringing you live coverage of all the matches from the tournament over the next couple of weeks, with our next slice of action coming later tonight, as England face Portugal.
Italy take the kick off and get the match back underway!
SUBSTITUTION: Sweden have made a change at the break, with Lindelof coming on for Larsson.
YELLOW CARD! Italy captain Bianchetti is shown the first card of the second half.
CLOSE! What a goal this would have been had it found the net! Baselli is found just outside the box and he fires in a first-time strike looking for the top corner, which goes inches wide of the post. Carlgren was getting nowhere near that and the keeper breathed a huge sigh of relief as it went behind.
There's been no change in the pattern of play since the break, with Italy still in charge. They haven't created too many openings though, with Baselli's great attempt the only shot we have seen so far.
GOAL! Italy 1-1 Sweden (John Guidetti)
Out of absolutely nowhere Sweden are level and it's Guidetti who gets the goal. A corner from the left heads all the way across to Lewicki at the back post and he then fires a low ball into the middle that is touched into the net by Guidetti. What a response that is for the 10 men, who have shown great spirit to come from behind.
Sweden look full of confidence now and they are pressing forward in search of a second goal. You would not think that they are playing with a man less at this point in time, with Italy looking stunned at how this second half is panning out.
SUBSTITUTION: Italy are making their first change, with Verdi replacing Battocchio.
SHOT! In the opening minutes we saw Berardi played the ball from a corner and attempt a volley from outside the box and Italy have tried the same approach again. This time the forward doesn't make great contact with the ball and smashes the strike high over the bar.
YELLOW CARD! Guidetti has found the back of the net and he has also picked up a caution, for a high challenge on Viviani.
Sweden grabbed a goal from their last set piece and they win a free kick in a promising positon down the left. Khalili goes across to take it and plenty of men are up in the box, but the delivery is poor and heads all the way out for a goal kick.
SUBSTITUTION: It's another change for Italy, with Cataldi coming on to replace Baselli.
YELLOW CARD! The referee has been quite card happy this evening and the latest player to be booked is Hiljemark, after a late tackle on Sturaro.
Berardi hasn't quite made as much of an impact in the second half than he did in the opening 45 minutes, but he shows his threat by breaking free down the left. He then works some room and drills in a low cross, but Sweden manage to clear the danger before any of his teammate can arrive.
CLOSE! Italy are starting to see more of the ball and their substitutions seem to have helped them wrestle back control. They also come close to grabbing a second goal, as Cataldi takes a great touch inside the box, before drilling a low strike across the face of goal and inches wide of the far post.
SUBSTITUTION: Sweden's goalscorer Guidetti looks to have picked up an injury and he heads off the pitch to be replaced by Ishak.
SUBSTITUTION: Italy make their third and final change of the match, with Trotta coming on for Belotti.
SHOT! Verdi has looked bright since his introduction and he weaves his way past a couple of tackles before finding room just outside the box. He then looks to fire a low effort into the bottom corner, but he scuffs the shot slightly and it goes comfortably wide of the target.
RED CARD TO ITALY! Both teams are going to finish the match with 10 men, as Sturaro is sent off for Italy. The midfielder shoved Ishak angrily by the touchline after the ball was kicked at him from point-blank range by the Swedish striker. That really was a moment of madness and it's all to play for as we enter the last 10 minutes.
There's still plenty of time for either side to find a winner and it really could go either way. I did not see Sweden getting back into the match after their first-half display, but they have been great since the break and have shown great resolve to fight back.
PENALTY TO SWEDEN! With five minutes left to play Sweden will have the chance to take the lead, as Ishak latches onto a ball over the top and races into the box before he is brought down by Bardi. The referee has no choice but to give a penalty and the goalkeeper is also shown a yellow card for the foul.
GOAL! Italy 1-2 Sweden (Isaac Kiese Thelin)
What a turnaround from the Swedes, as Kiese Thelin scores from the penalty spot to give his side the lead. He put it into the same corner that Berardi had scored from in the first half, with Bardi diving the wrong way.
Italy are desperately trying to salvage a draw and they win a free kick in a central position around 25 yards out from goal. After a long build up Viviani steps up to take it, but it's a disappointing effort, as he curls the ball well over the bar.
There are going to be four minutes of stoppage time. Will it be enough for Italy to rescue a point or can Sweden hang on?
SHOT! Italy pile on the pressure and they are seeing all of the ball in the Swedish half. Viviani also has another crack at goal from just outside the box, but he drills a poor effort well wide.
It's kicking off again and the referee is called into action to split up the two teams after a foul on Berardi. There was a bit of a scuffle, but in the end he gives Italy a free kick and decides not to hand out any further cards.
Sweden are dealing with everything that the Italians are throwing at them and they are hammering the ball clear at every chance. They are just a minute away from claiming what would be a superb victory over one of the pre-tournament favourites.
FULL-TIME: Italy 1-2 Sweden
The final whistle blows and Sweden have held on to claim a stunning win over Italy. They looked down and out after falling behind and having a player sent off in the first half, but they fought back strongly after the break and were rewarded with all three points.
That's just about all we've got time for here, after an eventful game in Olomouc. Our next coverage from the European Under-21 Championships will begin in 20 minutes, as England get their campaign underway against Portugal. Make sure you don't miss it! Until then, goodbye!
Written by
Alex Meyers
Alex Meyers
Spain U21s
