Salzburg, June 10:

Sweden beat defending champions Greece 2-0 here on Tuesday in their opening Euro 2008 Group D match with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Petter Hansson on target in the second period to get the Scandinavians off to a flier.

Sweden appeared hesitant in the first 45 minutes but their strong midfield snuffed out what little threat their rivals showed and then hit their stride with two quickfire goals. The opener after 67 minutes of stalemate was a real belter, Inter Milan star Ibrahimovic smashing in a superlative drive on the half-volley past keeper Antonis Nikopolidis and into the corner of the net following a neat flick on from the evergreen Henrik Larsson.

Ibrahimovic’s celebration was almost as fizzing, his joy palpable given that it was his first goal in his past 15 internationals, the drought extending back to an October 2005 World Cup qualifier against Iceland.

Hansson bundled home the second 18 minutes from time with Nikopolidis nowhere with the Greek defence all at sea.

Ironically , seconds before the Swedes took the lead Hansson had almost scored an own goal as he nodded a Traianos Dellas cross from the right perilously close to his own net. The Greeks, stunned by the opener, had no answer and with an effervescent Spain, as well as Russia, to come, they will struggle to make the last eight on this evidence.