ENGLAND WORLD CUP CAMPAIGN 2018 -- QUARTER FINALS VS SWEDEN

QUARTER FINAL STAGE
SATURDAY 7th JULY 2018
SWEDEN 0 vs 2 ENGLAND
[KICK OFF 7PM (BST)]
 --  Cosmos Arena, Samara

"Sven Goran Erikson, Bjorn Borg, ABBA, Ingrid Bergman, Dolph Lundgren, IKEA, Zlatan Ibrahimovic can you hear me Zlatan ? Your boys took one hell of a beating, a hell of a beating.     It's coming home ...."

England managed to make it through their first knockout stage World Cup match in twelve years beating Colombia 4-3 on penalties on Tuesday night, now their attention is on Sweden for a place in the Semi Finals. The Swedes should not be underestimated though and at least should play fair unlike the South Americans who are a massive bunch of cheats.

Sweden won their knockout tie 1-0 against Switzerland although a lucky deflected goal they are very well organised, hard to break down, attack quickly on the counter and although their talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic is no longer present there is plenty of skill in the starting XI. 

England still rely on the goals of Harry Kane (6) as he chases the Golden Boot here, Jordan Pickford continues to impress in goal and the defence is strong. Wouldn't be at all surprised if this is a low scoring game, though should it go to penalties we have nothing to fear now having got that monkey off our backs against Colombia and both my heart and head say it's going to be an England win. It's Coming Home !!

Starting XI's confirmed;

SWEDEN
Olsen (GK),  Krafth,  Lindelöf,  Granqvist (c),  Augustinsson,  Claesson,  Larsson,  Ekdal,  Forsberg,  Berg,  Toivonen

Subs -- Johnsson (Gk),  Nordfeldt (Gk),  Olsson,  Guidetti,  Svensson,  Helander,  Hiljemark,  Jansson,  Rohdén,  Durmaz,  Thelin

ENGLAND

Pickford (Gk), Maguire, Stones, Walker, Henderson, Trippier, Lingard, Alli, Young, Sterling, Kane (c)

Subs -- Butland (Gk),  Pope (Gk),  Dier,  Alexander-Arnold,  Loftus-Cheek,  Rose,  Vardy,  Cahill,  Jones,  Welbeck,  Delph,  Rashford

Referee -- BJORN KUIPERS (NED).

Kuipers has been a FIFA-listed referee since 2006, a UEFA Elite official since 2009 and is regarded as one of Europe's best officials, with more than 250 Eredivisie games under his belt. He took charge of this year's Europa League final having officiated in the 2014 Champions League final and the 2013 Confederations Cup final. Away from football he has forged a multi-million-pound chain of supermarkets across the Netherlands called Jumbo. 

HT Score -- 0 - 1. (Maguire 30')

FT Result -- 0 - 2. (Maguire 30',  Alli 58')

Comment -- Sweden got us underway and the first quarter of an hour England do seem very nervous in possession making a lot of unforced errors and misplaced passes. Thankfully no damaged caused and Gareth Southgate can try to calm them down. Sweden seem to play for the 0-0 and take an age with every throw in and goal kick. They can't play for the draw now cos on the half hour mark a cracking corner was buried by Harry Maguire to give England the lead and everyone goes nuts, could have had more too if Sterling could just relax and get his shots away but lets keep it going till half time lads.

Jordan Pickford is the keeper of the tournament with not one but two excellent saves in between which Deli Alli scores to make it 2-0 England on the hour. It's all England and should be 3 or 4 so keep calm and come on England.