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As it happenedended

England vs Sweden LIVE World Cup 2018: England into semi-finals - final score, latest reaction and highlights

Follow the latest from the World Cup quarter-final in Samara

Michael Jones
Saturday 07 July 2018 17:56 BST
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BoxPark Croydon celebrates Dele Alli's goal

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England will play for a place in the World Cup final after beating Sweden 2-0, matching their second-best ever performance at the tournament and putting them on the verge of history.

Harry Maguire and Dele Alli found the back of the net either side of half-time as England cruised to a deserved victory in Samara, setting them up with a potential semi-final against hosts Russia if they can negotiate Croatia in the final quarter-final.

It means that England have reached the last four for the first time since Italia '90, and ensures that hey will play two more games in Russia - either the third-place play-off or in the World Cup final.

Here's how the action unfolded...


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When is it?

England vs Sweden is on Saturday 7 July and kicks off at 15:00 at the Samara Arena.

Where can I watch it?

BBC will be showing live coverage on BBC One and online on the BBC Sport website.

How did they get here?

Sweden surprisingly topped their group ahead of Mexico and Germany after it looked like Toni Kroos’ late winning goal in their 2-1 defeat against the Germans would spell their exit. Their round of 16 tie against Switzerland was typical of their tournament to date, they defended well as a team, grabbed their goal and defended some more.

Southgate rested eight players against Belgium as England finished second in Group G which granted them an arguably easier path through the knockout rounds. The dramatic win against Colombia picks up the momentum that was created by wins Tunisia and Panama in the group stage.

England fans singing 'Its Coming Home'

What is their World Cup history?

While never winning it, Sweden have historically done well at World Cups, and the closest they came to glory was in 1958 when they lost to Pele’s Brazil in the final. Recent history has not been too kind to Sweden who had not qualified for a World Cup since 2006.

Winners in 1966, it’s been over 60 years of hurt for the Three Lions who may have their best chance to win a World Cup since Geoff Hurst scored a hat-trick in the final against Germany. England’s dramatic win against Colombia was the first time they have won a knockout match since beating Ecuador in 2006. Victory against Sweden will put England into the last four for the first time since 1990 and will the only the third time they have advanced to the semi-final.

Odds

England: 10/11

Sweden: 7/2

Draw (90 minutes): 9/4

Head-to-head

England have faced Sweden 25 times down the years only coming out on the winning side on eight occasions. The last time they squared off was back in 2012 when a certain Zlatan Ibrahimovic proved the hero for the hosts in Stockholm.

England survived a scare to reach this far
England survived a scare to reach this far (FIFA via Getty Images)

Prediction

England 2-1 Sweden: The Three Lions have shown admirable grit to make it this far and they'll need it again against a nuggety and stubborn Swedish side. They should have enough quality however, with that man Harry Kane the difference again.

42 mins: Half chance for England, Trippier hits a long ball into Sterling but he's smothered by two defenders and the ball is cleared, the ball comes into Lingard and he feeds Sterling into the box again, but the Manchester City striker hits Olsen in a one-on-one, he's offside though

Michael Jones7 July 2018 15:45

44 mins: CHANCE! Sterling again, Henderson finds him with a long ball, he's clear in the box but Olsen makes himself large and he taps the ball away, Sterling gets it back but Granqvist sends it out for a corner.

Michael Jones7 July 2018 15:46

HALF-TIME: SWEDEN 0 - 1 ENGLAND

Michael Jones7 July 2018 15:46

Here's how our Sports Editor Ed Malyon sees things at half-time:

Sweden: Olsen 6, Krafth 6, Lindelof 6, Granqvist 6, Augustinsson 5.5, 

Claesson 5, Larsson 5, Ekdal 6, Forsberg 6, Berg 5, Toivonen 5. 

England: Pickford 5.5, Walker 5.5, Stones 6.5, Maguire 7, Trippier 6, Alli 5.5, 

Henderson 6.5, Lingard 6, Young 5.5, Sterling 5, Kane 5.5.

Michael Jones7 July 2018 15:48

A spectacular header from Harry Maguire gives England the lead over Sweden at half-time, Sterling has been a threat with runs in behind the defence but his finishing needs to be improved.

Michael Jones7 July 2018 15:52

Our Football correspondent Jack Pitt-Brooke, inside the Samara Arena, says: 

"Awful first 20 minutes for England but they started to improve just before the goal. Another great delivery - this time from Ashley Young - and thumping header from Harry Maguire showed that it's not even just about Kieran Trippier's deliver. After then England continued to push and found more space than they did earlier on. With more luck Raheem Sterling would have made it 2-0 but he's been terrifying Sweden with his movement. England need a second to be comfortable but for now they can be happy with how the game is going."

Michael Jones7 July 2018 15:53

Advantage ​England!

Michael Jones7 July 2018 15:56

More reaction of the first half from Russia, The Independent's Chief sports writer Jonathan Liew, inside the Samara Stadium says: 

"Relax, everyone. It's going to be fine. Probably. Certainly, that half unfolded pretty much as Gareth Southgate would have expected it to, with England taking a while to get their bearings after their exertions on Tuesday night, and only gradually discovering that Sweden have the cutting edge of a Spaghetti Carbonara. They really should have made the game safe in that last 15 minutes before half-time, but you get the feeling they'll be all right anyhow. Just replace Ashley Young with Danny Rose, Raheem Sterling with Marcus Rashford and Dele Alli with one of those Three Lions banter memes. It's coming home. Albeit quite slowly, and probably via a corner."

Michael Jones7 July 2018 15:57

SECOND HALF: England start the second half to a chorus of God save the Queen, but Sweden win the ball, they move into England's half and Forsberg wins a throw in

Michael Jones7 July 2018 16:03

46 mins: SAVE! Quality stuff from Pickford, the cross comes in from the left and Berg meets it with a powerful header but Pickford launches to his left and parries the ball away with a strong left hand 

Michael Jones7 July 2018 16:04

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