Euro 2016: Wales well beaten in final warm-up match against Sweden

Sweden 3 Wales 0: Chris Coleman's side go down in Stockholm as Gareth Bale comes on as substitute

Chris Coleman saw his side complete their Euro preparations with a comprehensive defeat in Sweden (Getty)

Not even the return of Gareth Bale could prevent Wales from a worrying slump in Sweden.

The Real Madrid forward made his first appearance for the Dragons in eight months on the eve of Euro 2016.

But by the time he stepped onto the pitch at the Friends Arena in Stockholm, Wales were already two goals down and limping into their first major finals for 58 years.

Wales have now won just one of their last seven games and manager Chris Coleman admits he must spend the week ahead of facing Slovakia in Bordeaux rebuilding belief and confidence within his team.

Coleman said: “We’ve had a little bit of lull in results and [this] performance wasn’t great but you can forget about runs and recent results in that first game in France.

“We’ll pick the boys up over the next six days because we’ve got a huge week before the biggest game for Wales since 1958.

“I don’t want to see any long faces or anyone being negative. It’s the time for us to remember what we’ve done over the last two years to get to this position, our strengths and our qualities.

“You can sense some nerves. That’s normal because we’re in unknown territory. Our lads will be down for the next 24-48 hours because they don't like losing and we know we’re a lot better than that.


 Gareth Bale made his first Wales appearance in eight months, as a substitute (Getty)

“With success comes expectation and sometimes a little complacency and that can give you a little slap in the face. Maybe that’s what’s happened to us here.”

At least Wales survived two major injury scares when first Ashley Williams appeared to clutch his knee after falling awkwardly and then Bale was chopped down late. However both were able to finish the game.

Joe Ledley, Joe Allen and Hal Robson-Kanu were rested as they attempt to shake off injuries so Wales began with a new-look midfield pair of Andy King and David Vaughan.

However Wales were out-muscled and, Coleman admitted, “naive”, as they were often over-run in midfield.

With Bale on the bench, Zlatan Ibrahimovic dominated the limelight and England coach Roy Hodgson will have been interested to see how he found space in front of Wales’ trio of centre-backs and put others into space out wide.

England face Wales in the second group match in Lens on Thursday week.

He led the counter-attack after beating Ashley Williams to a loose ball and played a pass for Forsberg to place his shot past Wayne Hennessey five minutes before half-time.

James Chester cleared off the line early in the second half but Wales' frailties at set-piece returned as Celtic defender Mikael Lustig thumped in the second.

The 29-year-old was denied by replacement keeper Danny Ward after he out-jumped Chester.

Neil Taylor blocked Erik Johansson’s follow-up but Lustig squeezed in his second attempt.


 Zlatan Ibrahimovic set up Sweden's opening goal against Wales on Sunday (Getty)

Bale came on after 63 minutes, by which time Ibrahimovic was on his way to the showers, and threw himself into the Swedes, tussling with defenders and even leaving goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson with a bruise.

But his free-kick struck the wall and Sweden raced up field to strike a third in the 87th minute.

Guidetti latched onto Lustig’s long pass, headed past Ashley Williams before lashing home right-footed past a helpless Ward.

Sweden (4-4-2) Isaksson; Lustig, Johnasson, Granqvist, Olsson (Augustinsson, h-t); Larsson, Kallstrom, Lewicki (Ekdal, 60), Forsberg (Durmaz, 60); Berg (Guidetti, 65), Ibrahimovic (Kujovic, 60).

Wales (3-4-2-1) Hennessey (Ward, h-t); Chester (Collins, 63), A Williams, Davies; Gunter, Vaughan (Edwards, 63), King (Bale, 63), Taylor; J Williams (Huws, 72), Ramsey; Vokes (Church, 72).

Referee T Weiz (Germany)

Attendance 37,942