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Ljungberg in Sweden training fight

MIYAZAKI CITY, Japan (AP) -- Midfield star Fredrik Ljungberg and defender Olof Mellberg were involved in an unfriendly wrestling match as intensity stepped up during the Swedes' second workout in Japan on Thursday.

About an hour into the 90-minute session, Mellberg tackled Ljungberg hard during a scrimmage. Ljungberg responded by grabbing Mellberg. The two players were separated after the ensuing wrestling match, Daniel Andersson grabbing Mellberg and Henrik Larsson stopping the fired-up Ljungberg.

Mellberg left the field after practice without talking to reporters.

Ljungberg, his short hair dyed red, talked briefly as he went to the stands and signed autographs for hundreds of screaming Japanese fans.

"Such things happen when you play," he said. "If one (player) has been making tackles like that you have to respond. It happened a few times that he was a bit late tackling me. You can't tolerate that. But it's forgotten now."

Swedish team officials were expected to comment on the rare incident during an open house for Swedish visitors at the team's beachside hotel later Thursday.

Mellberg is one of the key players in the Swedish defence. The 24-year-old Aston Villa defender has 21 caps.

Ljungberg is perhaps Sweden's hottest player, having scored seven goals in his last seven matches and helping Arsenal win its second league and FA Cup double in four years this season.

But he missed the Gunners' Premier League finale because of a back problem and practiced for the first time Wednesday, when the Swedes opened camp in this southern Japanese city.

Ljungberg also missed Sweden's tuneup last Friday against Paraguay, which Sweden lost 2-1 after going unbeaten 17 straight games.

Sweden missed Ljungberg badly in midfield as the team struggled for long spells in Stockholm against Paraguay. He could be back in a friendly against World Cup co-host Japan in Tokyo on Saturday.

The Swedes also failed to impress in two earlier draws -- 1-1 against Switzerland at home and 0-0 against Norway -- with Ljungberg playing only one half in Oslo. That was his first appearance on the national team since Sweden clinched its 10th World Cup berth late last year.

Sweden opens the World Cup against England -- coached by Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson -- on June 2 at Saitama. Sweden's other "Group of Death" games are June 7 against Nigeria in Kobe and June 12 against Argentina at Miyagi.

Sweden has beaten both Argentina and Nigeria in their only meetings and hasn't lost to England in 33 years.

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