Van Bommel

Van Bommel

The Dutch coach banned free fighter Nigel de Jong, but keeps believing in his son in law Van Bommel. Veteran of the World Cup and Champions League finals, not really the best player and all round bad guy Van Bommel. And Lannoy seemed to never have heard of him.
Not only does Van Bommel always kick or push his opponent, he knows many dirty tricks as well. When a player lies on the ground and Van Bommel jumps over him, he will always manage to step on a leg or hit a head pretending he couldn't jump far or high enough. Sorry mate.
He does that on purpose, it is never an accident with Van Bommel. And why do referees, like Lannoy, allow Van Bommel to touch them? There is always a friendly pat on the back after Van Bommel hurt someone: It was an accident ref, right?

Thus

The Swedes must have thought: if Van Bommel gets away with it why not try something ourselves? So Larsson stepped on a player, Ibrahimovic had a unexpected violent push for Heytinga and Lannoy did nothing or didn't see it.
For some reason it didn't get out of hand. Probably the fact that most Swedish players play or have played in Holland - and speak Dutch - was the reason for the overall friendly mood. Not Lannoy.

match

Good Swedish players go to play in the Netherlands, Good Dutch players go to play in England, Spain, Italy and (now again) Germany. The Swedes are a step behind.