Holland and Sweden deadlocked at half time

Sweden 0-0 Holland

Holland and Sweden were locked in a goalless draw at half-time in their Euro 2004 quarter-final in the Algarve Stadium.

The Dutch came out in confident fashion, dominating the opening stages but unable to find the all-important finishing touch.

Holland were forced to make a substitution with 34th minutes played, captain Frank de Boer replaced by central defender Wilfred Bouma after picking up an injury.

In the first minute, Dutch defender Giovanni van Bronckhorst needed medical attention after being forced to clear a dangerous ball inside his own area.

But it was Holland who were showing more confidence in the opening stages.

In the ninth minute, Dutch winger Arjen Robben was the first to test Andreas Isaksson with a powerful strike from the edge of the area which forced the goalkeeper into a one-handed save.

Clarence Seedorf had skipped past Linderoth, who provided Robben with a fantastic assist.

Five minutes later, the Dutch had a second opportunity – but Seedorf’s free-kick from 25 yards went straight into the goalkeeper’s hands.

Holland continued to surge forward – and with 17 minutes played, Olof Mellberg made a vital to block following Van Nistelrooy’s shot on target from inside the box.

Sweden had their first shot on goal in the 24th minute, but Henrik Larsson’s free-kick did not trouble goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar as the shot went wide.

Three minutes later, Holland were back on the attack – with Van Nistelrooy feeding Reiziger whose first-touch strike went inches wide of Isaksson’s left-hand post.

In the 29th minute, Slovakian referee Lubos Michel showed the first yellow card of the game to Frank de Boer after a dubious tackle on Fredrik Ljungberg.

But it was the Dutch captain who got the worst of it, and Phillip Cocu had to come to his rescue.

Three minutes later, Cocu tried his luck from distance – with his powerful, bouncing shot surprising the goalkeeper who punched the ball away from danger.

Holland were forced to make their first substitution with 34th minutes played, an injured De Boer unable to continue and Wilfred Bouma taking his place in central defence – with Cocu handed the captain’s armband.

Four minutes before the break, it was substitute Bouma who made a vital block following Anders Svensson’s close-range shot on target. Shortly afterwards, Svensson had his second opportunity. But his weak shot went straight at the goalkeeper, much to the disappointment of Ibrahimovic who had provided the perfect assist.