Salzburg, Austria: Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his first international goal in almost three years on Tuesday to lead Sweden to a 2-0 win over defending champion Greece at the European Championship. Ibrahimovic, set up by strike partner Henrik Larsson, scored in the 67th minute with a powerful shot from the edge of the penalty box.

Greece goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis threw himself to the right and got a finger on the ball but it sailed into his upper right corner of the goal.

It was the Inter Milan striker's first goal for Sweden since October 12, 2005, when Sweden beat Iceland 3-1 in a World Cup qualifier. Ibrahimovic has now scored 19 goals in 51 matches for Sweden.

Central defender Petter Hansson doubled the lead in the 72nd, picking up a rebound off a shot from Fredrik Ljungberg and bundling his way past two defenders to roll the ball over the line.

Hansson had nearly given Greece the lead seven minutes earlier when he headed Traianos Dellas' cross dangerously close to the Swedish goal.

The Greeks mounted a late challenge to come back into the match but a disciplined Swedish defence kept them at bay.

Vassilis Torosidis had the best opportunity when he rushed toward the goal after intercepting a misguided pass from Daniel Andersson, but Sweden goalkeeper Isaksson stopped his low shot with his right leg.

"The Greeks didn't play with heart like they normally do, and the Swedes pushed us hard," Greece coach Otto Rehhagel said.

Sweden winger Christian Wilhemsson, who tested the Greek defence with well-timed runs down the flanks, was carried off the field in the second half after pulling his left hamstring.

The match got off to an uninspired start with both teams more concerned about keeping a tight defence than producing scoring opportunities.

For much of the first half, the defending champions just rolled the ball across their defensive line, drawing whistles from the Swedish section of the 30,000-seat Wals-Siezenheim stadium.

Ibrahimovic had Sweden's best chance before halftime, heading the ball over the crossbar with his back toward the goal.

Isaksson easily stopped two attempts by Angelos Charisteas but struggled to clear a bouncing shot from Greece captain Angelos Basinas.

The Greeks wasted a series of erratic high balls toward isolated striker Fanis Gekas, who was replaced at halftime by Georgios Samaras.

Sweden coach Lars Lagerback fielded an experienced lineup, with seven starters older than 30, including Henrik Larsson and fullback Niclas Alexandersson, both 36.

Greece started with seven players from the winning Euro 2004 squad.

Sweden, in their fifth consecutive major championship, next play Group D favourite Spain while Greece take on Russia. Spain crushed the Russians 4-1 earlier on Tuesday after a hat trick by David Villa.