Sweden vs Switzerland: Emil Forsberg the hero as Swedes squeak into World Cup last eight

Sweden 1-0 Switzerland: A second-half strike from the RB Leipzig midfielder was enough to see the Swedes through to the last eight for the first time since 1994

Emil Forsberg was Sweden's hero with the only goal of a tense game as Janne Andersson's side defied the odds again to set up a quarter-final showdown with England or Colombia.

Sweden overcame a Swiss side placed sixth in Fifa's rankings, with the same never-say-die spirit as Andersson's men had shown in finishing top of Group H, ahead of Mexico, South Korea and Germany.

And having failed to qualify for the previous two World Cups, the Swedes can now dream about going into the final stages, as they did in 1994, when they finished third in the United States with Tomas Brolin in his pomp.

This time Forsberg was the star of the show, scoring the decisive goal, albeit with a deflection off the boot of Swiss defender Manuel Akanji in the 66th minute. Forsberg also cleared one Swiss effort off his own goal-line and was given a standing ovation from Sweden's fans when he was substituted in the 82nd minute.

It was no less than he, and Sweden, deserved. The recurring theme in the build-up to this match was about two sides punching above their weight by emphasising the collective over the individual, but the first half suggested it was a game crying out for a moment of individual brilliance to break the deadlock or at least brighten the gloom.

These two organised and workmanlike sides were mostly cancelling each other out, and on those rare occasions when a chance was offered, it was duly squandered. Marcus Berg, Sweden's big striker set the tone when he sliced an early volley horribly wide with the rashness of a park player. Berg had gone 12 shots without scoring, more than any other goalless player at this tournament, but could count himself unlucky when his 13th effort, a curling shot on the turn, was brilliantly tipped away at full stretch by Yann Sommer, the Swiss keeper.

There was no excuse for Albin Ekdal, though, when the midfielder missed a sitter five minutes before half-time. Victor Lindelof broke up an attempted Swiss counter-attack and fed the ball to Mikael Lustig on the right. The Celtic defender swung in a teasing cross that eluded a pack of players to arrive in the path of Ekdal at the far post. The midfielder, who had earlier volleyed over from 20 yards, had the simple task this time of sweeping the ball into an unguarded net from six yards, but managed to sidefoot the ball high over the bar and Sweden's best chance to take the lead had gone.

Swiss misses were just as evident, if not as spectacular. Steven Zuber headed a Xherdan Shaiqiri cross over the bar, Granit Xhaka produced a shot that Arsenal fans have come to expect, a powerful drive from long range that flew over the bar, and Blerim Dzemaili blazed over from closer range after a neat exchange of passes with Zuber.

Forsberg struck the only goal of the game (EPA)

Shaqiri was getting little joy on the right so switched to the left and started to unsettle the Swedes, with one delightful cross deserving more than a safe passage through the goalmouth shortly before half-time. It was all a little too tame, and someone needed to take a chance.

Up stepped Forsberg. The RB Leipzig playmaker had a quiet first-half except for a free-kick that flew off Switzerland's defensive wall and just wide of the far post.

But when he next had a shot deflected, in the 66th minute, it was decisive. Ola Toivonen started the move with a neat lay-off to Forsberg, who cut in to find space in a central position 20 yards from goal. With no-one closing him down, the midfielder had time to measure his right-footed shot, but it looked to be going straight towards Sommer until the intervention of Akanji, whose right boot sent the ball in an arc away from the wrong-footed keeper. Sweden had made the breakthrough to plant one foot in the quarter-finals, and had no intention of letting it slip.

Sweden are through to the last eight for the first time since 1994 (AFP/Getty Images)

Switzerland's coach Vladimir Petkovic threw caution to the wind and made a double substitution in a bid to equalise, sending on strikers Breel Embolo and Haris Seferovic. The Swiss threw everything forward, but the Swedish defence stood firm, with Forsberg playing his part too. He was stationed at the far post to clear the ball off the line when Embolo got a firm header to a Shaqiri corner, before being replaced by Martin Olsson.

The Swansea defender, who was supposed top shore up the defence but found himself at the centre of another dramatic VAR moment as he led a breakaway in stoppage time. With Olsson advancing on goal, Michael Lang sent him tumbling on the edge of the penalty area. Referee Damir Eskomina initially pointed to the penalty spot and showed a red card to Lang, but then reviewed his decision with VAR, which showed Lang's trip on Olsson to have started outside the penalty area.

Sweden squaked through to the quarter-finals (AP)

Lang's red card stood, but Sweden's penalty was changed to a free-kick, which Toivonen thumped straight at Sommer, seconds before Skomina blew the final whistle to send the Swedish players and fans into raptures.