Sweden V England, Solna

Sweden v England

Friendly International

Friends Arena

Stockholm, Sweden

14 November 2012

England were again given the honour of opening the new Swedisn national stadium in Solna. Hopefully it will be a luckier ground for England than the Rasunda stadium, where we have failed to win since we opened it in 1937 with a 4:0 victory in front of 40,000 fans.

   

Tickets for this encounter were readily available and supply met demand. The stadium has a capacity of 50,100 and England's allocation was about 2500 who were all congregated in blocks 121,122,123 and 124 on the lower tier and behind one of the goals to the right. This high allocation enabled me to keep my caps going and moving up the ESTC ladder

Tom Cleverley stars on the front page of the the Free Lions. This will be his sixth cap despite having to spend the majority of his league experience out on loan

The weather in Stockholm was overcast and drizzling, but nothing like the debacle of Warsaw. The efficient Swedes had the roof closed allowing supporters to bask in temperatures of 20 C

Sweden 4 England 2

Attendance: 49,967

The new stadium was magnificent but the tickets were a bit on the dear side but come to think about it so was everything else: the Arlanda express, the tube, the beer, the food and the hotel. Come on FA, please hook us up with some more trips to Moldova.

The Friends Arena is the industrial suburb of Solna which is close to the old stadium. It is also a central transport hub for the north of Stockholm. Our hotel was located close to the ground inside the Solna centrum shopping centre.

This trip was to be fast and furious due to work commitments, which was a bit inconvenient because the Swedish capital remains one of our favourite Scandinavian haunts and definitely warrants a 2/3 night stay. Sadly, we had to make do with a single night, but it proved to be a bloody good one.

We get the metro from Stockholm's central station to Solna . The highlight of this journey was the incredible public artwork that adorns the stations on the Stockholm metro system.

Solna Centrum's Metro Station

Solna centrum. Somewhere in this complex is our accommodation for the night

Within 20 minutes of arriving at central station we were at the hotel. Our hotel, 'Park Inn by Radisson' was conveniently located inside the Solna Centrum.

After a failed attempt to find Neil in Gamla Stan we headed back to Solna and found a brilliant bar called the Offside Sports Bar. On arrival the bar was filling nicely with Swedish fans, and a few English had also started to turn up. The banter was good and we met two lads from Chester. I made a note to return here after the game.

The journey from the bar to the ground was about 15 minutes by foot. On arrival, the stadium lighting gave the Friends Arena an impressive façade. After asking directions we located the EF portacabin for signing in; so far so good.

The opening ceremony was a bonus, especially

as it was cosy and warm in the arena (+20C).

Setting the scene for a medieval battle.

If I am totally honest, Zlaten's fourth goal is simply the best goal that I have ever witnessed at a live game, it was simply brilliant. and right in front of the England fans. I'm sure it was revenge for the band playing a sarcastic rendition of 'Steptoe and Son' when he fluffed an earlier shot at goal.

The first free match programme that I have managed to secure at an England away game. After the game we met up with Tommy Truman and headed back to the Offside Bar for some more liquid refreshments. This worked out well because it is within stumbling distance to the metro station (very convenient for Tommy).