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Sweden 0-1 Belgium: Radja Nainggolan strike seals progress

Radja Nainggolan (centre) returned to the Belgium side in place of Moussa Dembele
Image: Radja Nainggolan (centre) returned to the Belgium side in place of Mousa Dembele

Belgium secured their place in the last 16 of Euro 2016 with a 1-0 win over Sweden in Zlatan Ibrahimovic's final game for his country.

Radja Nainggolan drilled home via a deflection off Erkan Zengin with six minutes to play to confirm Belgium's progress and eliminate Sweden, who exit the competition with one point from three matches.

Romelu Lukaku and Ibrahimovic each had strikes ruled out before Nainggolan's winner, while Sweden goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson kept his side in the game with a string of impressive second-half saves.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic acknowledges the crowd after Sweden lost 0-1 to Belgium
Image: Zlatan Ibrahimovic acknowledges the crowd after Sweden lost 0-1 to Belgium

Victory for Belgium in Nice on Wednesday means they finish Group E second to Italy, and will face Hungary in the last 16 in Toulouse on Sunday.

Each side made a single change from their previous group matches, with Marcus Berg in for Sweden and Nainggolan returning for Belgium.

Group E final table

Team W D L GD Points
Italy 2 0 1 +2 6
Belgium 2 0 1 +2 6
Rep of Ireland 1 1 1 -2 4
Sweden 0 1 2 -2 1

Having waited 184 minutes for a shot on target at the tournament, Sweden squandered the first opportunity of the match when Berg fired straight at Thibaut Courtois, but both teams looked dangerous in an absorbing first half.

In a passage of play that was typical of the end-to-end action, Kevin De Bruyne tested Iskasson with a curling effort before Sweden countered and Ibrahimovic struck narrowly past Courtois' far post.

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Sweden's forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic in action against Belgium
Image: Ibrahimovic intends to retire from international duty after Euro 2016

On the stroke of half-time Belgium went close again, Thomas Meunier glancing a header wide, but Sweden started the second half on the front foot, and only a poor touch from Berg prevented the striker from testing Courtois.

Requiring a win to progress, Sweden had the ball in the net just after the hour mark, but Ibrahimovic's fine volley was ruled out for a high foot by Berg in the build-up.

Belgium's forward Romelu Lukaku (R) vies with Sweden's defender Martin Olsson
Image: Belgium have booked a last-16 match with Hungary

The game continued to ebb back and forth and Sweden had Isaksson to thank after smart stops to keep out De Bruyne and Lukaku, who had broken through one-on-one only to be thwarted by a sprawling save.

The Everton man finished neatly moments later, but the assistant referee's flag denied him his third goal of the tournament.

In three-minute spell that would ultimately condemn Sweden, De Bruyne's goal-line clearance preserved Courtois' clean sheet - his 20th in 40 caps - before Nainggolan struck at the other end to seal the win.

Eden Hazard broke free down the left and pulled the ball back for the midfielder, whose firm shot flicked off Zengin and past Isaksson.

Radja Nainggolan fires home the only goal of the game
Image: Radja Nainggolan fires home the only goal of the game

Marc Wilmots' side threatened to inflict further damage as substitute Christian Benteke forced another fine save from the Sweden 'keeper, but in the end they settled for progress.

Elimination marks the end of the international road for Ibrahimovic, who confirmed before the game he intends to retire from Sweden duty once knocked out.

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