Sweden 3-0 Wales: Gareth Bale plays 25 minutes in loss

By Lewis Jones

Monday 6 June 2016 00:02, UK

Wales' final preparations for Euro 2016 ended on a low note as they were soundly beaten 3-0 by Sweden.

Wales boss Chris Coleman will struggle to find any positives as goals from Emil Forsberg, Mikael Lustig and John Guidetti did the damage in Stockholm.

Gareth Bale came off the bench with 25 minutes remaining and Wales improved slightly, but it's now just one win in seven games as they head to France where they will take on Slovakia in their Group B opener next Sunday.

Meanwhile, Sweden, who were captained by Manchester United target Zlatan Ibrahimovic, face Republic of Ireland in their opening Euro 2016 game on June 13.

Bale was among the Wales substitutes as Coleman had confirmed pre-match that his star man would play no more than 45 minutes in this final warm-up game.

Joe Allen, Joe Ledley and Hal Robson-Kanu were all missing through injury, so David Vaughan, Andy King and Sam Vokes started as Wales named seven of the side which began the 1-0 defeat to Ukraine in March.

Ibrahimovic returned for the hosts after calf trouble and he was the heart of all Sweden's good moments.

Derby full-back Marcus Olsson fired over from a tight angle after just 47 seconds as Wales struggled to get out of their own half.

The lack of threat in the final third for the Welsh was apparent from an early stage and Lustig should have done better on six minutes when heading over from just eight yards out.

Ibrahimovic whipped an effort over the bar from 20 yards on 22 minutes before there were appeals for a penalty six minutes later after James Chester deflected a cross behind with what appeared to be his lower arm - but the referee waved away the claims.

RB Leipzig midfielder Forsberg broke the deadlock on 40 minutes.

Ibrahimovic beat two Welsh defenders on halfway with a clever flick and skipped forward 30 yards before setting up Forsberg to plant an effort into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

Coleman's side didn't muster a shot on goal in the opening 45 minutes and it was Sweden that continued to dominate after the break.

Chester had to be alert to clear off his own goal-line from Marcus Berg on 49 minutes but a second goal was coming.

It came on 58 minutes when Lustig finished from close range after Neil Taylor had twice cleared away efforts from Swedish attackers.

Wales were seeking some inspiration and they almost got it when substitute Bale tried his luck from close range and then went close with a swerving 30-yard shot.

The sight of Bale had obviously lifted Wales and substitute Swedish goalkeeper Robin Olsen just did enough to keep out Aaron Ramsey's free-kick at the far post.

But Wales were punished again three minutes from time when Guidetti beat Ashley Williams to a bouncing ball and forced the ball home.