World Cup: Sweden beat Switzerland to set up possible quarter-final with England
Striker Emil Forsberg fired home to give the Swedes a 1-0 victory over Switzerland in their last-16 tie.
Wednesday 4 July 2018 06:30, UK
England will take on Sweden in the World Cup quarter-finals if they beat Colombia in Moscow tonight.
Striker Emil Forsberg fired home to give the Swedes a 1-0 victory over Switzerland in their last-16 tie, securing his side a place in the second knockout round for the first time since 1994.
If England can make it through what many pundits believe will be the toughest test of their possible route to the final at the Otkrytiye Arena on Tuesday, they will face Sweden for the third time in the last five World Cups.
The two sides went head to head in the group stages of the 2002 and 2006 tournaments, with the matches ending 1-1 and 2-2 respectively.
Sweden went into their clash with Switzerland having topped Group F thanks to wins over Mexico and South Korea, but the Swiss also had reason to be confident after qualifying unbeaten from Group E.
That run included holding favourites Brazil to a 1-1 draw, but they struggled to break down a stout Swedish defence that had already kept clean sheets in two of their three group games.
Sweden actually had the better of the opening 45 minutes in terms of chances, but poor finishing - and one stunning stop from Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer to deny striker Marcus Berg - meant it remained goalless at the break.
Their opponents barely threatened bar a few dangerous crosses from Xherdan Shaqiri and an ambitious long-range effort from Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka, with any promising approach play let down by heavy touches and sloppy passing in and around the box.
After the break there were early openings for both sides, but the game soon settled into the same rhythm as the first half, with Switzerland dominating possession without providing much in the way of goal threat.
Swedish fans were in better voice throughout despite their side sacrificing much of the possession, and filled the Saint Petersburg Stadium with a deafening roar when Forsberg struck with a deflected effort in the 66th minute.
Chances to equalise came mostly via Swiss left back Ricardo Rodriguez, whose energetic running up the flank often ended with dangerous crosses being fired across the box.
One late delivery found the head of Haris Seferovic, but Olsen got down sharply to save.
As has been the case throughout the tournament so far there was late drama, but unfortunately for Switzerland it came from an attack on their goal.
Martin Olsson burst through in the fourth minute of added time and was bundled over by Michael Lang, who was given his marching orders by the referee.
Initially a penalty was given, but following consultation with the video assistant it was decided that the foul took place just outside the box and a free kick was given instead.
Sommer beat away a fierce effort from Ola Toivenem but there was no time for Switzerland to launch a final counter - and Sweden will now play either England or Colombia in the quarter-finals at 3pm UK time on Saturday.