Sweden 2-1 Denmark: Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Emil Forsberg seal narrow victory as hosts edge lively Euro 2016 play-off first leg

• Emil Forsberg cut a fine finish across the goal to give Sweden the lead against Denmark on the stroke of half-time
• Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel produced a spectacular save to deny Zlatan Ibrahimovic moments later
• Sweden captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic struck penalty five minutes after restart to make it 2-0 after Forsberg was fouled 
• Nicolai Jorgensen poked from close range to reduce deficit after Yussuf Poulsen had nodded cross into his path
• Click here to follow the action from the UEFA Euro 2016 play-off first leg at the Friends Arena as it happened 

By Riath Al-samarrai for The Mail on Sunday

Published: 16:41 EST, 14 November 2015 | Updated: 08:52 EST, 15 November 2015

He screamed, he pouted, he scored and when he felt enough was enough, he waved to his manager and decided it was time for a substitution. Just another exhibition of brilliance and eccentricity in the extraordinary career of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

How Sweden must fear the day he calls it quits. That could be as early as Tuesday if the return fixture of this play-off does not go to plan, Ibrahimovic having indicated already this week that failure to qualify for Euro 2016 might mark the end.

What a double punch to the stomach that would be for Swedish football. 

Sweden captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic struck a penalty five minutes after restart to make it 2-0 to the hosts in their Euro 2016 play-off

The former Barcelona and Juventus striker jubilantly celebrates Sweden's second goal of evening against Scandinavian rivals Denmark

The Paris Saint-Germain star points to the sky in celebration after doubling his side's Euro 2016 play-off lead on Saturday evening

Sweden midfielder Emil Forsberg finished off a well-worked team move to give Sweden the lead on the stroke of half-time

Nicolai Jorgensen runs away in celebration following his close range finish which reduced the deficit for Denmark against Sweden

But thankfully for them, it is not the probable outcome right now, with the Swedes doing just about enough in Stockholm to take an advantage to Copenhagen. 

They scored through Emil Forsberg at the end of the first half and Ibrahimovic buried a penalty to make it 2-0 early in the second. It was his ninth goal in nine qualifying games; his 412th strike in 750 career appearances.

Those numbers stand scrutiny against all but the best two of the current era; he is probably right in his battles against modesty when he says a major championship is not quite the same if he is not there.

But to ensure that is not the case in France as it was at the last World Cup in Brazil, Sweden have to up their game. They conceded late on to Nicolai Jorgensen and a won tie was suddenly in the balance. Denmark had chances to level but did not take them. The margins were exceptionally fine, the finale appropriately frantic.

Ibrahimovic said: 'We won the game and I think that is the most important thing. But when you concede on your home field, it gives the advantage to them. There is one game to go and if we can play like we did here, scoring more goals and creating the chances, we have a good chance.

'I feel good. We are spoiled when it comes to our supporters. They always cheer for us in home or away games, and we cannot complain for the support we have. We have to give them back and here I think we gave it back. There is still one to go.

'The way I feel now, I feel I have more games to go.'

Not many will have the intensity or depth of feeling as this, which followed a minute of silence in memory of the Paris terror attack. Ibrahimovic, who plays his club football for PSG, admitted it was hard to concentrate in light of the atrocities committed in France, saying: 'It's sad, tragic. things like that shouldn't happen. I stand behind those who have passed on and the families there.

'I tried to focus on the game, which was very hard.'

The first half was occasionally brilliant. If Marcus Berg had been on his game, it would have been high scoring as well. Instead, the gesticulations and anger of Ibrahimovic told their own story. 

Ahead of kick-off, Sweden and Denmark players observed a minute's silence for the victims of the Paris attacks which unfolded on Friday

The players from Sweden and Denmark show their respects after 129 people were killed in the attacks in Paris 

Sweden striker Marcus Berg reacts after missing an opportunity to score on Saturday by tugging on his shorts

Panathinaikos striker Berg puts pressure on Denmark's Riza Durmisi during the crunch clash in Sweden

Ibrahimovic joins his Sweden team-mate in reacting with disappointment after also missing the target in the first half

But that came later. The half started with a blitz of quick, sleek Denmark counters. They tend to be seen as the masters of flair in these parts and here, for a time, that stereotype appeared to be holding true. Martin Braithwaite destroyed Martin Olsson of Norwich early on down the right; Viktor Fischer did much the same to Mikael Antonsson on the other side.

In the hard currency of chances, it amounted to precious little. When Denmark did break through at the end of the first half, Nicklas Bendtner produced the kind of miss that Nicklas Bendtner would not think possible of himself.

At the other end, Sweden started horribly slowly, guilty of sloppy passes and panicked decisions. But when they settled, they dominated. Berg had four chances, the last of which was laid on by an Ibrahimovic lob. He dragged his shot wide and Ibrahimovic, who was free for a return pass, was furious. 

Sweden opened the scoring against Denmark after Forsberg confidently fired home into the bottom left corner

The 24-year-old midfielder is mobbed by his Sweden team-mates after scoring at the Friends Arena to give his side a vital lead

The hosts were inches away from scoring a second minutes later but Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel produced spectacular save

Denmark attacking midfielder Thomas Kahlenberg challenges Ibrahimovic during the Euro 2016 play-off 

Sweden defender Martin Olsson, who plays his club football in the Premier League with Norwich, beats Lars Jacobsen to the ball

Ibrahimovic then missed an opportunity of his own with a shot on the turn before Bendtner, in the 44th minute, fluffed his lines in what, quite conceivably, was the decisive point of the match. 

Christian Eriksen, a wonderful playmaker with Tottenham but never entirely convincing on the stage where the expectations are greatest, started the move with a stunning pass but Bendtner missed the target altogether from six yards.

Forsberg then scored after an excellent exchange between Jimmy Durmaz and Celtic's Mikael Lustig, before Ibrahimovic made it 2-0 after Forsberg won a penalty from Thomas Kahlenberg.

It was so easy that Ibrahimovic asked to come off after 78 minutes. Straight away, Jorgensen scored and Sweden fell to pieces. If they want to keep Ibrahimovic a while longer, Sweden need to avoid such wobbles on Tuesday. 

Ibrahimovic confidently fired his penalty beyond Leicester City goalkeeper Schmeichel after Forsberg was brought down in the area

The Sweden star striker is mobbed by his team-mates after netting from the penalty spot five minutes after the break

Denmark captain Daniel Agger cuts a dejected figure during their Euro 2016 play-off clash against Sweden

But the visitors did have something to smile about when Jorgensen (second right) reduced the deficit with 10 minutes remaining 

Copenhagen striker Jorgensen is joined by his Denmark team-mates to celebrate their away goal at the Friends Arena 

The Sweden players applaud the home supporters after battling to a 2-1 victory over Denmark in their Euro 2016 play-off first leg

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