Swedish Celt prevails

Attractive schedule
Assessing the Lisbon venue's schedule, the meeting between Sweden and Bulgaria would perhaps have been considered the least attractive of the five matches to be played. Not least, with Spain and Portugal's heavyweight showdown and the traditional rivalry that follows Germany meeting the Czech Republic to come. All that plus a quarter-final and semi-final as well.

Devastating display
However, despite the lack of a pre-tournament favourite in action at the home of Sporting Clube de Portugal tonight, there was certainly much to admire as Sweden turned in a devastating display against a Bulgarian team that, despite the 5-0 scoreline, contributed greatly to the entertainment value.

Steady beat
With 90 minutes to kick-off, the atmosphere in the stadium had begun to build. The Bulgarians were first to emerge for a pre-match inspection, drawing a loud cheer from their fans gathered to the left of the tunnel. Several in the crowd were carrying huge drums and kept up a steady beat despite the heat.

Camera action
The Swedish players were not far behind and their yellow-clad fans rose as one to welcome their smartly-suited squad. It was evident the players too felt this was going to be a night to remember as they passed a video camera around to record the moment for posterity.

Cutting-edge design
There was plenty to take in. The stadium itself, built almost on the site of the old Alvalade, is a credit to cutting-edge design with its colourful mosaic tiling outside and equally rainbow-like seating inside. A deep concrete trench separated the crowd from the action but the noise emanating from both sets of supporters easily made the jump across to inspire the players.

Celtic split
As expected, the main men for each side proved to be the talismanic duo of Henrik Larsson and Stilian Petrov. Playing together for the past five seasons in the green-and-white hoops of Scottish side Celtic FC, the veteran Swedish striker and the youthful Bulgarian captain felt right at home in the verdant Alvalade. Following a lively first half, the sole surprise was that Sweden's Fredrik Ljungberg was the only one to score.

Clinical finishes
In the end it was Larsson who won the battle of the Celtic duo on show in the city where the Lisbon Lions wrote their club's name into history in the 1967 European Champion Clubs' Cup final. His first goal was a stunning diving header in the 57th minute, followed up a minute later by a clinical far-post finish.

Ibrahimovic penalty
How Bulgaria will be wishing that Larsson had not reversed his international retirement just before these finals. The 32-year-old was the only survivor from the Sweden team that beat Bulgaria 4-0 to earn third place at the 1994 FIFA World Cup. The crowd held their collective breath when Ljungberg won a late penalty, but rather than Larsson stepping up to round off a dream hat-trick, it was Zlatan Ibrahimovic who scored from the spot before Marcus Allbäck made it five at the death.

Sporting chance
Yet, regardless of whoever had come out on top between Petrov and Carlsberg Man of the Match Larsson, the four Celtic fans with the green-and-white banner giving equal billing to 'Stan the man' and 'King Henrik' had always known that they would be going home happy.