England will look to reach the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup for the third time in their history, while the Swedes aim to make it into the last-four for the fifth time when the two teams meet in the quarter-finals at the Samara Arena on Saturday. 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. [caption id=“attachment_4689571” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] England beat Sweden to qualify for the semi-finals of a World Cup after 28 years. AP[/caption] 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 semi-finals. 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 Alli 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 Saint Petersburg. That could be a factor if the game goes into extra time in what promises to be a warm and humid Samara evening. With inputs from agencies Click here for full coverage of FIFA World Cup 2018 Click here to view the full schedule of FIFA World Cup 2018
Highlights, Sweden vs England, FIFA World Cup 2018, Quarter-final at Samara: Three Lions reach semis after 28 years
England take on Sweden in the quarter-finals of the World Cup. Follow our live blog for scores and updates from Russia.
 "Highlights, Sweden vs England, FIFA World Cup 2018, Quarter-final at Samara: Three Lions reach semis after 28 years")
Alright folks, that’s all we have from this match.
A lot of talk about ‘it’s coming home’ but England still have to play the semi-final. They did not play the best football to enter semis but did just enough. Today’s performance will give them the confidence considering they kept a clean sheet. Jordan Pickford, the goalkeeper, has been the phenomenal player for England. His saves against Sweden played a vital role in their team’s win.
We will be doing the live blog of the other quarter-final match today – Croatia vs Russia here . Please join us there.
Thank you!
Well..
When you can’t get “it’s coming home” theme tune out your head pic.twitter.com/RisR1wPL31
— Kyle Walker (@kylewalker2) July 7, 2018
Dominating performance from England!
He’s an asset for his team!
Harry Maguire's #WorldCup game by numbers vs. #SWE:
— Squawka (@Squawka) July 7, 2018
85% passing accuracy
68 touches
9 aerial duels won
6 clearances
2 shots
2 chances created
1 shot on target
1 goal
Mt. Maguire reaches new heights. 🗻 pic.twitter.com/mj1HGcTZJc
First World Cup semis after 28 years.
VIDEO: England fans in London react to the team's second goal against Sweden in the #WorldCup quarter-final pic.twitter.com/QBlPyShc3C
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) July 7, 2018
Only third time!
3 - England have progressed into the semi-finals of the World Cup for only the third time, having also done so in 1966 and 1990. Magic. #ENG #SWEENG #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/AfiTZEml04
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 7, 2018
Full-time! SWE 0-2 ENG
England are through to the semifinals of a World Cup for the first time since 1990. A comfortable win today will raise the hopes even further. Get ready for a deluge of patriotic coverage by the British press. Good luck to everyone!
Full-time! SWE 0-2 ENG
It’s all over. England are through to the semi-final of the FIFA World Cup. They will either face Croatia or host nation Russia.
Jubilation for Harry Kane and Co.
90+2’ SWE 0-2 ENG
Sweden has switched to a three-man defence after the introduction of Pontus Jansson. Even though this move is supposed to make the Swedes more attacking, there has been no evidence of that.
90’ SWE 0-2 ENG
Free-kick for Sweden at a dangerous position. Augustinsson hits it high.
Marcus Rashford comes off the bench to replace Raheem Sterling.
Five minutes of added time.
86’ SWE 0-2 ENG
The only bit of entertainment going on at the moment is the constant chatter between Berg and Stones. Neither of them look likely to lose their heads but the referee calms them down when he notices the hot-headedness.
83’ SWE 0-2 ENG
This game looks done. Sweden not looking threatening enough while England are not keen to add more goals.
Meanwhile change for England. Eric Dier replaces Jordan Henderson.
78’ SWE 0-2 ENG
England has activated lockdown mode. Delph replaces Dele Alli even as the Three Lions hog possession to deny Sweden the slightest inkling of a comeback.
76’ SWE 0-2 ENG
England make their first change. Dele Alli is off. Fabian Delph comes on to the field.
Yup!
Pickford is the keeper Joe Hart thinks he is
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) July 7, 2018
74’ SWE 0-2 ENG
Oh dear, Marcus Berg. He is once again unable to beat the goalkeeper and it seems like he will finish the World Cup with no goals. Before the match, Sweden’s lack of goals was a worry and it has come back to bite Janne Andersson’s team
71’ SWE 0-2 ENG
Pickford with yet another great save!
Berg controls the ball on the centre of the box and hits a left-footer on target only for Pickford to get a fingertips save.
Fifth header!
That goal was the FIFTH header to find the back of the net for @England at this #WorldCup so far - more than any other team! #SWEENG 0-2 pic.twitter.com/8J3GKJ75M0
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 7, 2018
He’s making a habit of it
When you just keep pulling out ridiculous saves... pic.twitter.com/b5lwXXtt4t
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) July 7, 2018
67’ SWE 0-2 ENG
Double substitution by Sweden. Forsberg and Toivonen off, Martin Olsson and Guidetti on. But it is England in control. It does not look likely that there will be a repeat of the last-minute Colombia equaliser today.
65’ SWE 0-2 ENG
Two changes for Sweden.
Olsson comes off the bench to replace Forsberg. Also, Guidetti replace Toivonen.
62’ SWE 0-2 ENG
England was threatening to put this game to bed and looks like it has. Lingard picked out an unmarked Dele Alli who heads home from close range. It might just be time to remake One Night in Turin
Sweden responds immediately with Claesson’s shot but Pickford is once again equal to the effort. Previous English campaigns have been undone by a blundering goalie. Not anymore.
59’ SWE 0-2 ENG
Dele Alli!
Lingard’s ball from the right finds an unmarked Alli, who makes no mistake from a close range on the far post to double England’s lead.
54’ SWE 0-1 ENG
The game has opened up a bit. England are also looking to double their lead with decent attacking movies. Sterling getting into good positions but he has to do more. Harry Kane also need to make more noise.
50’ SWE 0-1 ENG
Marcus Berg’s goalless tournament continues as England once again counts its blessings that it has a goalie of Pickford’s calibre. Sweden has started this half with a show of intent so there’s hope that it will be a better fare than the first period.
47’ SWE 0-1 ENG
SAVE FROM PICKFORD!
Berg gets a good header inside the box but Pickford pulls off an equally good one-handed save to deny him. Sweden off to a positive start.
46’ SWE 0-1 ENG
Second-half is underway at the Samara Arena.
The first-half stats!
Stat alert!
1 - England have lost just one of their 22 World Cup games in which they have been leading at half-time before today (W17 D4), with that sole defeat being the 1970 quarter-final against West Germany. Resolute. #ENG #SWEENG #WorldCup
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 7, 2018
Half-time! SWE 0-1 ENG
Oh dear. Minutes after an offside call saved Sterling’s blushes, he fluffs another one-on-one opportunity. To make matters worse, he refuses to pass to Kane after recovering the ball. England will go up a goal ahead at half-time, though. They would have been encouraged by the space opening up behind the Swedish defence minutes before the interval.
Half-time! SWE 0-1 ENG
Harry Maguire’s header gave England the lead. Sterling could’ve made it two and nothing special in the first 45 minutes from Sweden.
44’ SWE 0-1 ENG
Oh chance!
Henderson with a good long ball to Sterling, who controls it beautifully, but takes bit too much time for his shot and goes out for a corner.
Lewis Hamilton ain’t missing the England game!
When you’ve just taken #BritishGP 🇬🇧 pole, but @England are on the 📺...@LewisHamilton did say he didn’t want to miss the ⚽️! #BritishGP 🇬🇧 #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/iqiAEdQkRm
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) July 7, 2018
40’ SWE 0-1 ENG
Sweden are looking to attack from the right. The idea ls to aim the long balls into the boxes for Berg and Toivonen. So far though, there’s no success.
37’ SWE 0-1 ENG
Two years ago, Maguire watched from the stands as England played out a soul-sucking goalless draw with Slovakia at the Euros in France. No longer traveling as just a fan, the Leicester City has now scored a goal which will at least ensure that there will be no repeat of that forgettable encounter.
31’ SWE 0-1 ENG
A goal off a corner, who’s surprised? Sweden will be very disappointed because that was very simple for Harry Maguire. To his credit, he applied plenty of power behind the ball. England is a step closer to its first World Cup semifinal in 28 years.
30’ SWE 0-1 ENG
HARRY MAGUIRE!
First corner of the match and it belongs to England. Young takes it and Maguire with a thumping header to give the lead to his team.
29’ SWE 0-0 ENG
One can understand why Sweden is showing little creativity in attack. It does not have many players who can be decisive. What is England’s excuse?
27’ SWE 0-0 ENG
After one decent attacking move, things are back to normal. By that I mean a snooze fest. England dominating the possession but that’s about it.
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