World Cup 2018: Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka on England facing Sweden: ‘Everything about them is difficult’

Sweden's 4-4-2 formation and dour defensive approach may not be pretty or innovative, but it works for them and has got them into the last eight for the first time since 1994

How do you beat Sweden?

It is a question that has exercised the minds of more than a few international managers, and Gareth Southgate will be the latest to address the conundrum of how this nation of modest means, having lost their one world-class player, have given bloody noses to some of football's traditional power-houses.

Sweden's path to their quarter-final with England in Samara on Saturday has taken them past the Netherlands, Italy and Germany so far. And although Switzerland, the opponents they defeated in the last 16 on Tuesday, are not a super-power, they are sixth in Fifa's rankings – make of that what you will. The Swedes also beat France in a qualifier last summer, so they have no fear of taking on the big boys and getting a result.

Their 4-4-2 formation and dour defensive approach may not be pretty or innovative, but it works for them and has got them into the last eight for the first time since 1994, when Tomas Brolin and co finished in third place.

As Xherdan Shaqiri said after being knocked out in St Petersburg on Tuesday: “They just stand back with big players in defence and try to play on the counter-attack. It was not beautiful football against us, but beautiful football does not always win. In today's era it is important to win games and it's not important how.

"I don't think they are going to change their football to tiki-taka against England. It's going to be the same."

His team-mate Granit Xhaka was more succinct: “Everything about them is difficult.” He meant it as a compliment, and Sweden's players have no concerns about their methods or style.

Xherdan Shaqiri's Switzerland lost to Sweden (Getty Images)

“We're in the last eight, which is massive for us, and we are not saying sorry to anyone because I think we have earned it,” said Mikael Lustig, the Sweden and Celtic defender. “The way we are playing is amazing. We are defending with our lives and we create a lot of chances as well.”

Now Sweden are in the quarter-finals and afraid of no-one. “We have respect for all the teams but we are not scared of anyone,” said goalkeeper Robin Olsen. “We are a good team and have shown it here. We have had some tough games and played well. We were not even at our best against Switzerland so we can go up another gear.”

Janne Andersson has fostered a never-say-die attitude and close team spirit that he did not want to endanger by offering Zlatan Ibrahimovic the chance to return from international retirement, much as the superstar might have wanted it.

Striker Ola Toivonen said: “Zlatan is Zlatan. When you are against or with him, you know magic moments are going to happen. That's the really positive side when you have Zlatan in your team. “But when you don't have the big star in the team, you really need to work as a collective. We don't have a lot of possession but we really work as a team and trust each other, particularly in the defensive part of the game.”

Toivonen admits his sole focus is on what Sweden do. “I don't care about other teams. I'm focused on us and that was the same through qualification, focussing on being a really good team.

“I don't think anyone will want to play us. We're an aggressive team, we trust our defence and create chances. We are frustrating for opponents. We let them have possession. It doesn't bother us, and then in these four games we've been really effective.”

Toivonen and Berg have hardly been prolific in Russia, with the latter having had the most shots on target without a goal – 13. Harry Kane, by contrast, has scored with every one of his shots on target, six so far, which is the same as Sweden have managed between them so far. As a striker, Toivonen is aware of the Tottenham man's threat, much as he has not bothered to watch England so far. “To be honest, I haven't seem much of England, just the goals. But they have Harry Kane and he is an amazing number nine.”

Kane had a bruising encounter with Colombia's defenders in Moscow on Tuesday, and while there may be less wrestling from Andreas Granqvist and Co, there will be no less resolve to stop Kane at all costs. As Lustig said: We've proved time after time, even when we play the big nations we find a way to win the game. This World Cup has been crazy so far so hopefully it will continue like that.”