Los 40 USA
NewslettersSign in to commentAPP
spainSPAINchileCHILEcolombiaCOLOMBIAusaUSAmexicoMEXICOlatin usaLATIN USAamericaAMERICA

WORLD CUP 2018

Sweden - England live online: World Cup 2018 quarter final

Headed goals from Harry Maguire and Dele Alli gave Gareth Southgate's side a relatively comfortable, if not spectacular win over a disappointing Sweden.

Update:
¡
EMMANUEL DUNANDAFP

Sweden 0-2 England: match report

An impressive England advanced to their first World Cup semi-final for 28 years on Saturday after headers by Harry Maguire and Dele Alli gave them a deserved 2-0 last-eight victory over a disappointing Sweden.

Centre back Maguire connected with an Ashley Young corner to score his first international goal after 30 minutes as England had much the best of the first half.

Jordan Pickford made excellent saves to deny Marcus Berg, twice, and Viktor Claesson after the break but England generally looked the more dangerous side and were rewarded when Alli headed the second from a Jesse Lingard cross in the 59th minute.

England previously reached the semi-finals in 1966, when they went on to win the World Cup for the only time, and 1990 and will next face either Russia or Croatia, who meet later on Saturday.

Sweden v England live online: latest news 

Sweden v England live online: preview

Another chapter opens in the Russia 2018 “It’s Coming Home” England national team adventure as Sweden stand in the way of the Three Lions first World Cup semi-final appearance since Italia 90.

Sweden have been one of the surprise packages at this World Cup. Having deprived Italy of a place at the Russia 2018 World Cup in the play-offs, solid wins over Mexico and South Korea coupled with a last minute defeat to Germany was enough for Janne Anderson’s to claim top spot in their group and set of a Round of 16 tie against Switzerland where a second half Forsberg goal was enough to set up an intriguing quarter final tie against England.

England also were stretched in their Round of 16 tie against Colombia where a 1-1 draw saw many English fans anticipating the dreaded penalty shoot out with morbid trepidation. Astute penalty kick preparation and analysis from the backroom staff was instrumental in seeing the Three Lions prevail to today’s Samara Sweden clash.

Sweden

Glasgow Celtic’s Mikael Lustig (suspended) is the only absentee for Sweden in a match that will be the 25th meeting between these sides. England have won eight to Sweden's seven, with nine draws.

Swedish coach Andersson was in confident mood in the pre-match press conference stating: We're really strong in our beliefs and we really have been from the outset."

With the best defensive record at the World Cup the Swedes go into the England game with three clean sheets in four matches so it’s anticipated that goal scoring will be at a premium at the Samara Arena this afternoon.

England

Good news for Southgate is the news that Ashley Young has returned to full fitness and the Manchester United player could line up in the left wing-back position. Less positive is the news affecting Jamie Vardy who has failed to recover from a knock sustained in the Colombia game and is likely to miss out.

Kyle Walker, Jordan Henderson and Jesse Lingard are all carrying yellow cards and would miss the potential semi-final if they are cautioned.

England boss Gareth Southgate has done an excellent job in tempering the euphoria after the dramatic Colombia penalty shoot-out win and this was reflected in his pre-match press analysis: “We won the other night but I still had a couple of emails, saying 'really good, but you should be picking this one and that one'’, he joked. “So it’s impossible to please everybody all of the time but you've got to just believe that you're making decisions for the right reasons.”