Swedish-German rivalry promises classic

BERLIN, June 23 (Reuters) Swedish tourists were refused petrol in West Germany, their national flags were taken down and Scandinavian food was scratched off restaurant menus as a ''Cold War'' broke out after the World Cup semi-final -- in 1958.

Nine-man West Germany, beaten 3-1 by the hosts after two late goals, were so enraged that they fled Sweden shortly later the match and ignored a post-tournament banquet.

The German football association (DFB) president vowed that he would never to return to Sweden.

''Yes, I remember that 1958 match,'' said Sweden coach Lars Lagerback on Thursday. He was nine years old at the time.

Lagerback now has the chance to lead his team to their first World Cup win over Germany since that epic battle in the latest instalment of their tension-filled rivalry.

The memories and bitter aftertaste from the controversial 1958 semi-final are as alive in Germany today as those of the 1966 final against England that West Germany lost 4-2.

The Germany-Sweden last 16 match on Saturday in Munich has sparked renewed interest in their past tournament meetings.

Germany won 2-1 in the 1934 World Cup quarter-finals and knocked the hosts out of Euro 92 in the semi-finals. But it is the 1958 game in Gothenburg that still stirs the passions.

BEST MATCHES ''West Germany-Sweden was one of the best matches of the 1958 World Cup,'' said Patrick Krull, a sportswriter for Die Welt newspaper, noting that the Swedes used megaphones to whip up the stadium crowd into a frenzy against Germany.

''Ever since, the rivalry has always been at a high level. Unlike with the Dutch and England, who usually treat soccer as an extension of World War Two to push the buttons of our historical baggage, Sweden matches have focused on sport.'' They have met 31 times, according to the DFB. Sweden have won 13 and Germany 12, with six draws.

The 1958 match marked the last time Sweden beat a German team at a World Cup. In 1974, hosts West Germany met Sweden again -- in the quarter-final. The Germans triumphed 4-2 in Duesseldorf on the way to winning the tournament.

''The West Germany-Sweden match was the best of the 1974 tournament,'' said Eric Champel, a sports writer for France's L'Equipe, who was at the stadium that day.

''The Germans were under pressure after losing to East Germany in the final group match. Beating Sweden in that great match was a bit of reconciliation with the rest of the country,'' Champel added.

''The match was pure drama.'' Lasse Sandlin, a writer for Sweden's Aftonbladet, said he expects Saturday's match to become another classic struggle.

''They play the same kind of football as we do,'' he said.

''Physical and very fast. It's going to be a very tight game.'' REUTERS PM PM0911