Swedes maintain their perfect run

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STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Sweden maintained their perfect start to their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign with a comprehensive 2-0 defeat of Spain in Group F in Stockholm on Saturday.

A first half goal by striker Johan Elmander and another by Marcus Allback in the second period gave Sweden their third win in a row and handed Spain a second straight defeat.

Sweden, who previously beat Latvia and Liechtenstein, hardly allowed Spain a chance in the opening half.

Elmander, replacing Zlatan Ibrahimovic, fired the home side into the lead in the 10th minute, breaking into the right side of the box after receiving the ball from Anders Svensson and drilling the ball under Spanish keeper Iker Casillas.

Elmander came close to making it 2-0 before halftime when he beat Casillas from 20 meters only to see his fierce drive rebound off the crossbar.

Spain pressed forward in the second half but were denied by Swedish keeper Rami Shaaban, who made fine saves from David Villa and Fernando Torres.

With eight minutes remaining Sweden made a lightning break and Christian Wilhelmsson crossed low for Allback who controlled the ball and left defender Carles Puyol and Casillas for dead before slotting the ball into an empty net.

Group favorites Spain, who suffered a 3-2 defeat in Northern Ireland last month, are languishing down in fifth place with just three points.

Faced with inevitable questions about resignation Spain's coach

Luis Aragones said: "It's complicated and difficult but I have been in football a long time and lived through difficult moments.

"But it depends on the Spanish federation."

Aragones said he thought his team played better than Sweden, but allowed the Swedes to counterattack.

"We had more ball possession, we had more opportunities and we lost the match," he said.

Maris Verpakovskis struck twice to help Latvia crush Iceland 4-0 in their Group F qualifier on Saturday.

Latvia opened the scoring when Girts Karlsons took advantage of a slip by visiting goalkeeper Arni Gautur Arason in the 17th minute.

Striker Verpakovskis headed the second goal a minute later before the same player made it 3-0 in the 28th, pouncing on the rebound after Arason had blocked a shot.

Substitute Aleksejs Visnakovs completed the scoring from eight meters in the 54th minute.

Northern Ireland followed up their notable home win over Spain by taking a point in a goalless game in Denmark.

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