Euro 2012: France reaches quarter-finals despite 2-0 loss to Sweden
Sweden’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores by France’s Philippe Mexes during the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group D match between Sweden and France in Kyiv on Tuesday.
Sergei Grits/AP
KYIV, UKRAINE—France advanced to the quarter-finals of the European Championship in unimpressive fashion Tuesday, losing 2-0 to Sweden but going through thanks to England’s win over Ukraine.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored one of the best goals of the tournament with an acrobatic volley in the 54th minute to give already eliminated Sweden its first points of the tournament.
Sebastian Larsson smashed home Sweden’s second goal in injury time from close range.
The loss ended France’s 23-game unbeaten streak but it still finished second in Group D after England beat Ukraine 1-0 in Donetsk. France will face Spain the quarter-finals Saturday.