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World Cup 2018: Zlatan Ibrahimovic confident that Sweden will beat England

The former striker predicted that Sweden will win the World Cup before the tournament started

Thursday 05 July 2018 14:46 BST

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Celebrations as England go through to quarter-finals of the World Cup

Cast your mind back to November 2012. Roy Hodgson’s England have just lost 4-2 to Sweden in Stockholm and Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored all four goals, including a stunning bicycle kick from outside the area.

Six years on and England are preparing to face Sweden for a first appearance in the World Cup semi-final since 1990. England have beaten their quarter-final opponents twice in their last 15 attempts, and Ibrahimovic believes that this record makes Sweden favourites to win.

“Sweden has a good chance,” said Ibrahimovic who retired from International football after the European Championship in 2016. “I am Swedish and I believe in Sweden against England.

World Cup team of the round of 16

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1/12World Cup team of the round of 16

World Cup team of the round of 16

World Cup team of the round of 16

Find out which players make it in the best team of the round of 16

AP

World Cup team of the round of 16

Igor Akinfeev

The veteran goalkeeper was the deciding player in Russia and Spain’s penalty shootout. He saved efforts from Koke and Iago Aspas as Russia continued to impress in their home World Cup by advancing to the quarter-final.

AFP/Getty

World Cup team of the round of 16

Benjamin Pavard

What is it with right-backs and scoring great goals in this World Cup? His slow rising half volley against Argentina is a serious contender for goal of the tournament.

Getty Images

World Cup team of the round of 16

Harry Maguire

It was not clear who would start as England’s third centre-back alongside Kyle Walker and John Stones in their first game, but there is no doubt that Maguire is emerging as one of England’s best defenders. Barring a dive, his performance against Colombia was the latest in a very good series of games in the World Cup.

PA

World Cup team of the round of 16

Andreas Granqvist

The Swedish captain added to his two goals in the group stage with a very good defensive display against Switzerland. He was strong, robust and let very little get past him.

AP

World Cup team of the round of 16

Ilya Kutepov

The entire Russian defence deserves a mention after their performance against Spain. They stuck to their task and denied Spain’s creative players any space on the edge of the penalty area.

AFP/Getty Images

World Cup team of the round of 16

Casemiro

The Real Madrid player has been dominating midfields in Champions League matches and continued that for Brazil in the World Cup. His good game against Mexico was marred by a yellow card which rules him out of the quarter-final tie against Belgium.

AFP/Getty Images

World Cup team of the round of 16

N'Golo Kante

It was another dominating performance from N’Golo Kante who did a good job in midfield as France beat Argentina. His passing from the back was straightforward but influential in the way he quickly shifted the ball to players like Antoine Griezmann.

Corbis via Getty Images

World Cup team of the round of 16

Ivan Rakitic

It may not have been the most eye-catching performance from Croatia against Denmark, but Ivan Rakitic’s partnership with Luka Modric in the centre of midfield on one to be feared.

Getty

World Cup team of the round of 16

Kylian Mbappe

The 20-year-old, yes 20, announced himself to the few in the world who didn’t already know his name with an outstanding performance against Argentina. He scored a brace and won a penalty with a scintillating from inside his own half.

Getty

World Cup team of the round of 16

Neymar

Neymar has grown into this tournament as it’s progressed and is beginning to look like he’s back to full fitness. He created plenty of chances for Brazil against Mexico before tapping the ball into the net and setting up Roberto Firmino to win the game.

AFP/Getty Images

World Cup team of the round of 16

Edinson Cavani

Edinson Cavani’s brace against Portugal was a weight of the PSG forward’s shoulders as he ended accusations that he fails to deliver in big games. He took his two goals very well but was forced off with an injury which was thought to rule him out of the game against France, however the extent of his knock is not as bad as first feared.

Getty Images

“But now it’s not just about how good you are. Now there are a lot of emotions in the picture, because it’s about quarterfinals. The team that can handle their feelings best will have an advantage.”

Sweden topped their group ahead of Germany and Mexico then beat Switzerland 1-0 in the round of 16 to advance to the quarter-final for the first time since 1994, bettering any performance on the world stage they managed with Ibrahimovic in their side.

The former Manchester United, Barcelona, PSG and Inter Milan striker – to name a few of the clubs he’s played for – is confident Sweden will win the World Cup once they beat England, just as he predicted.

“Yes, I think Sweden can become world champion, just like I said before the World Cup started. They beat Mexico, which was strong, and then they defeated Switzerland as well. So they have had success, as nobody thought they would use.

Ibrahimovic says Sweden can win the World Cup (AP)

“It’s England on Saturday and we’re all there with our full support behind them. All Swedes in the world are proud of our national team and they will continue to be proud no matter how it goes.”

Ibrahimovic’s comments come after former Sweden international Hakan Mild said England players are “spoilt children.”

“It couldn’t be a better draw, they think they are so good, they are not,” said the 74-time capped Swede. “They are spoilt children who earn a lot of money. They don’t have the desperation needed.”

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