Goals by Maguire, Alli take England to semis, knock Sweden out of World Cup

England advance to the semi-final of the World Cup for the first time since 1990 and will face either Russia or Croatia. Sweden bow out of the tournament but they were impressive in parts.

Gareth Southgate-led England will be looking to build on their dramatic penalty shootout win over Colombia when they face a Sweden side in Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final at the Samara Arena on Saturday.

Full-time match report: England swept aside a rather blunt Sweden at the Samara Arena to beat them 2-0 and advance to the semi-final for the first time since 1990. Defender Harry Maguire and midfielder Dele Alli both scored from headers while goalkeeper Jordan Pickford pulled off at least three stunning saves to deny Sweden any chance of making a comeback. The Three Lions will meet either Croatia or hosts Russia in their third ever World Cup semi-final while Sweden bow out of the tournament in which they reached the quarters despite the lack of any big name.

The match had a very slow start with neither team threatening each other's goal for at least the first 15 minutes. England got its first chance in the 18th minute when Raheem Sterling played a ball to his captain Harry Kane after going on a good run. The Tottenham striker's low-drive on the left though was off-target. 

The first goal came in the 30th minute when England got a corner. Ashley Young swung an inviting cross into the box which Harry Maguire rose the highest to and connected with to send the ball bouncing into the low left corner. 

England from then on kept more possession of the ball but couldn't really threaten the Swedish who were happy putting their men behind the ball and defending in numbers. They did get a glorious chance in the 44th minute when Henderson released Sterling with a lovely ball over the top. Sterling, who was one-on-one with Olsen, tried to round off the keeper only for Olsen to get a touch on the ball. By the time Sterling recovered, the Swedish players had crowded him. The Manchester City winger did take a shot but it flew off for a corner after taking a deflection.

Early in the second half, England's goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made a stunning save off a Marcus Berg header. Berg's downward header from a cross seemed to be destined to find the bottom right corner but Pickford made a one-handed save to deny Berg and Sweden. Nearly 10 minutes later, England had their second goal from header.. again! Jesse Lingard floated a beautiful cross from the right side in the box to the far post where Alli was waiting, unmarked. The Tottenham striker headed the ball in to double England's lead.

Pickford made another fantastic save in the 61st minute when he got down to his right to save a low Viktor Claesson drive from about 10 yards. And although Sweden didn't trouble the English much, they did come knocking again in the 71st minute when, after a quick break, Guidetti, from the left, found Berg in the middle. The Swedish striker swung his left boot but Pickford was quick enough to jump and turn the shot over the bar. Sweden had their chances, but in some cases they were poor with taking those chances and in other cases the young keeper Pickford was absolutely brilliant.

This young England squad -- whose average age is less than the years it has been since England last was in the semi-final -- have shown character and discipline to be able to go the long way. They will meet either Croatia or Russia, but if they can continue "enjoying ourselves" -- as Harry Kane puts it -- they can overcome the next obstacle too.

Jordan Pickford was excellent today, but so was Harry Maguire, Kieran Trippier, and many other English players. They might not be the fanciest bunch, especially if compared to their predecessors, but they are effective. Gareth Southgate may, just may, bring it back home with the help of these lads!

Live updates:

Full-time!! Peeepppp!!

Minute 90-- Sterling substituted out for Marcus Rashford.

Minute 87 -- Guidetti booked

Minute 86 -- Hendreson booked.

Minute 83-- England substitution: Henderson substituted for Dier.

Minute 75 -- England substitution: Dele Alli comes on for Fabian Delph.

Minute 71-- Pickford to the rescue!! Yet again!! Sweden break quickly and Guidetti, from the left, finds Berg in the middle. Berg swings his left-boot and the ball goes past Maguire but Pickford is quick enough to jump and turn the shot over bar. What a save!

Minute 64-- Double substitution for Sweden: Guidetti on for Toivonen. Forsberg goes out for Olsson.

Minute 61 -- Pickford makes a stunning save off a Claesson drive from about 10 yards!! Henderson then saves the follow-up shot!! Pickford has been fantastic today.

Minute 57 (GOAL)-- Dele Alli scores!! From a header!! Jesse Lingard from the right side in the box floats a beautiful cross at the far post for Alli who is unmarked. Alli heads the ball home quite easily.

Minute 54--  England win a free-kick on the left. The ball's lofted towards the far post, where Harry Maguire heads it across the face of goal. It hangs in the air and Raheem Sterling tries an acrobatic overhead kick, but fails to trouble Robin Olsen.

Minute 46 -- Pickford saves!! Marcus Berg puts in a downward header from a cross which seem to be destined to find the bottom right corner but Pickford makes a one-handed save to deny Berg and Sweden!!

Half-time report: England are 1-0 up against Sweden at the Samara Arena, courtesy a Harry Maguire header in the 30th minute. England should have had at least one more goal but Raheem Sterling couldn't beat Swedish goalkeeper Olsen in a one-on-one situation before being crowded off by the defenders.

The match had a very slow start with neither team threatening each other's goal for at least the first 15 minutes. England got its first chance in the 18th minute when Sterling played a ball to his captain Harry Kane after going on a good run. The Tottenham striker's low-drive on the left was off-target. 

The first goal came in the 30th minute when England got a corner. Ashley Young swung an inviting cross into the box which Harry Maguire rose the highest to and connected with to send the ball bouncing into the low left corner. 

England from then on kept more possession of the ball but couldn't really threaten the Swedish who were happy putting their men behind the ball and defending in numbers. They did get a glorious chance in the 44th minute when Henderson released Sterling with a lovely ball over the top. Sterling, who was one-on-one with Olsen, tried to round off the keeper only for Olsen to get a touch on the ball. By the time Sterling recovered, the Swedish players had crowded him. The Manchester City winger did take a shot but it flew off for a corner after taking a deflection.

Sweden haven't really threatened in terms of attack but with an entire half to play, it's anybody's game to win.

Minute 44 -- Sterling is released one-on-one with a lovely pass over the Swedish defence. The Man City player takes the ball down beautifully and tries to round off the keeper. Olsen gets a hand on the ball although Sterling tries to recover and takes a shot nonetheless only for it to be deflected off for corner.

Minute 43 -- Sterling misses a glorious chance after he runs between the line to receive a pass which Kane slipped between the Swedish defenders but faced with the keeper one-on-one he shoots straight at the keeper! But it's flagged off-side anyway.

Minute 39 -- Kyle Walker keeps the ball from going out of the play and pings it forward. Sterling picks it up and sprints heads down to the left side of the box and tries to cross it into the box but it's defended.

Minute 30 (GOAL!!) -- Maguire heads England into lead!! England get a corner. Young swings it into the mix and Maguire rises about the rest to head it inside the left upright.

Minute 28-- Sterling dances down the middle before laying it off for Young on the left. Young tries to drive a cross into the middle but it's blocked.

Minute  23 -- Trippier drives a low-cross for Kane but Olsen saves it comfortably before Kane can get at the end of the cross.

Minute 18-- Kane misses. Sterling goes on a good run and escapes a few defenders before playing it for Kane who drives his first touch with a low shot towards the left from outside the box but his shot is a bit off-target.

Minute 12-- Viktor Claesson tries a long-ranger but his shot sails high and wide of Jordan Pickford’s goal. The England goalkeeper angrily berates his defenders for not closing down the Sweden midfielder.

Minute 5 -- England get a chance! Alli dispossesses Emil Kfrath about 35 yards from goal. The Tottenham midfielder tries to play Harry Kane through on goal with a pass but his effort is errant and Sweden goalkeeper Robin Olsen deals with it comfortably.

Peeeeeeeeeeeeeeppppppp!! And .. kick-off!


Line-ups out:  

Sweden: Olsen, Krafth, Lindelof, Granqvist, Augustinsson, Claesson, Larsson, Ekdal, Forsberg, Berg, Toivonen.

Subs: Johnsson, Olsson, Guidetti, Svensson, Helander, Hiljemark, Jansson, Rohden, Durmaz, Thelin, Nordfeldt.

England: Pickford, Walker, Stones, Maguire, Trippier, Alli, Henderson, Lingard, Young, Sterling, Kane.

Subs: Butland, Rose, Dier, Vardy, Welbeck, Cahill, Jones, Delph, Rashford, Loftus-Cheek, Alexander-Arnold, Pope.

Referee: Bjorn Kuipers (Holland)
 

Sweden vs England line-up

 

Sweden reached the semis in 1938, 1950, 1958 (when they were hosts and would go on to play in the final) and in 1994 in the US.

The English qualified for the semi-finals in 1966, (when they won the World Cup on home soil) and 1990, when they endured the heartbreak of losing a penalty shoot-out to Germany.

England finally put their penalty jinx behind them on Tuesday when they beat Colombia and will be favourites to make it into the last four.

However Sweden produced another typically solid display to knock Switzerland out of the round of 16 and give England an idea of the task awaiting them.

Swedish coach Janne Andersson will welcome veteran midfielder Sebastian Larsson back into the side after a suspension, while central defender Andreas Granqvist has opted to stay with the squad even though his wife is expected to give birth at any moment.

England have an injury doubt hanging over striker Jamie Vardy, who picked up a groin injury against Colombia, but that shouldn't alter Gareth Southgate's starting XI.

Dele Ali also looked to be struggling with his troublesome left thigh and Southgate will have to decide whether to risk the attacking midfielder or to include Ruben Loftus-Cheek or Fabian Delph, who returned to the squad after his wife gave birth on Tuesday.

The English have been effective from set-pieces, scoring seven of their nine goals at the tournament from corners, penalties or free kicks. They will need to be more clinical in the penalty area against a rival that showed against the Swiss that they are totally committed to defending.

Sweden have their base camp in Gelendzhik, where it is around 10 degrees centigrade hotter than the England training base near St Petersburg. That could be a factor if the game goes into extra time in what promises to be a warm and humid Samara evening.

Although England are the favorites to beat Sweden, recent meetings between the two sides should give the English reasons not to be overconfident.

Key stats: England vs Sweden

* Despite scoring fewer goals, Sweden have had more shots on goal then England at this tournament. They have attempted 18 shots, one more than England.

* England’s Harry Kane is the top scorer at Russia 2018 so far with six goals.

* Sweden’s Marcus Berg has had 13 shots on goal during the tournament but has yet to score.

* Sweden’s Sebastian Larsson will return from suspension, but the Swedes will be without Mikael Lustig following his second yellow card of the tournament against Switzerland.

* England’s Jordan Henderson, Kyle Walker, Rueben Loftus-Cheek and Jesse Lingard are all on one booking.

* England have scored nine goals at Russia 2018. Only Belgium on 12 have scored more.

* Sweden have only conceded two goals at this tournament. Only fellow quarter-finalists Uruguay and Brazil have a better defensive record.

* Sweden have made 140 defensive clearances at Russia 2018, more than any other team.

* England’s three goals from set pieces is the most at the tournament. However, they have also conceded twice in similar situations, including Colombia’s last minute equalizer in the last 16.

* England’s win over Colombia on penalties in the last 16 was their first ever World Cup penalty shootout success. They had lost the three previous shootouts they had been involved in.

* The last time the teams met in 2012, Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored four goals as Sweden beat England 4-2 in a friendly.

Previous meetings: In 24 meetings between the sides, England have won eight times and Sweden seven. Both previous World Cup meetings between the sides have finished in draws, most recently in 2006.

When and Where to watch: Sweden vs England

Time: 7:30 PM (IST), 4:00 pm (Sweden Time), 2:00 pm (GMT)

In the today's first quarterfinal match, Sweden vs England will take place in Samara on Saturday, July 7, 2018 at 7:30 PM (IST), 4:00 pm (Sweden Time), 2:00 pm (GMT).

Sweden vs England match will be broadcast on Sony Ten 2, Sony Ten 2 HD in English Commentary and Sony Ten 3 and Sony 3 HD in Hindi Commentary.

Sweden vs England match will be available for live streaming on Sony Liv also. And Both Airtel and Jio would broadcast the FIFA World Cup 2018 matches for free to their respective subscribers.

Watch out for: Kieran Trippier

England’s World Cup quarter-final against Sweden throws up a fascinating tactical battle in which wing back Kieran Trippier will play a key role in breaking down a Swedish side playing a classic, and very English, 4-4-2 system.

According to statistics by Opta, the top three creators of chances in this tournament are Brazil’s Neymar, Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne and Trippier.