Sweden earned a ticket to the 2016 European Championship after drawing with Denmark 2-2 in the second-leg playoff on Tuesday.
While Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who scored both of Sweden’s goals, will get to make his international bow in France next year, this match was the end of the road for Morten Olsen, Denmark’s coach for 15 years.
Ibrahimovic put Sweden 2-0 ahead, and though Denmark’s Yussuf Poulsen and Jannik Vestergaard replied in the last 20 minutes, the Swedes advanced 4-3 on aggregate.
After a strong start by the Danes, Ibrahimovic ran free to heel in a flat corner kick in the 20th. A few minutes later, he missed another chance that Kasper Schmeichel saved.
Just before the break, Denmark captain Daniel Agger came close to conceding an own goal when stopping Ibrahimovic.
Ibrahimovic, who has 19 career goals in Euro qualifiers, added a second on a free kick in the 77th.
A third-place finish to Sweden in Group G behind Russia and Austria meant the Swedes’ only route to the championship was to defeat their neighbors and archrivals.
In the second half, the Swedes pushed the ball around while the Danes were chasing it. Denmark had several corners in the second half but failed to score. As the Nordic derby drew to an end, the Danes increased the pressure and scored twice.
When Denmark forward Nicklas Bendtner left the turf after a disappointing performance to be replaced in the second half by Morten Rasmussen, he was booed out.
Olsen said he was stepping down, as expected. “I have of course told the players that (the Danish federation) and I have agreed that I stop,” Olsen said. “In recent months, we have been too unstable in our performances and have created too few chances.”
Olsen has coached Denmark since 2000, and took the Danes to four major championships. Under him, Denmark qualified for the 2002 and 2010 World Cups, and Euro 2004 and 2012. He is the first Dane to reach 100 national team matches as a player and coach.
Police, including heavily armed SWAT team members, were seen around Parken Stadium. Fans were bodysearched and had their bags checked.
Sweden won the first leg 2-1 on Saturday in Stockholm.
Ukraine beat Slovenia
MARIBOR: Ukraine beat Slovenia 3-1 on aggregate to qualify for the European Championship next year, after a 1-1 draw on Tuesday.
It is the first time Ukraine has successfully qualified for a European Championship, although it received an automatic place as co-host in 2012.
Captain Bostjan Cesar fired up Slovenian hopes when he scored from a close-range header in the 11th minute off Valter Birsa’s cross. With the final attack of game deep into stoppage time, Andriy Yarmolenko made sure of qualification for Ukraine with a cool finish to a counterattack with Artyom Kravets that was made possible after Kampl slipped in possession.