Sweden vs South Korea LIVE World Cup 2018: Latest score and goal updates from the Group F encounter
Follow all the latest news from the second Group F match in Russia
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Your support makes all the difference.Sweden will be desperate to get their first World Cup 2018 finals campaign for 12 years off to a winning start when they face Group F minnows South Korea in Nizhny Novgorod on Monday.
Janne Andersson’s team lack star power without Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but formidable organisation and team spirit got them to Russia at the expense of Netherlands and Italy.
South Korea have been hit by injuries in the build-up to this tournament, and expectations are low for the least heralded squad they have ever sent to a World Cup.
Follow all the live action below…
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What time is kick-off?
Sweden vs South Korea kicks off at 1pm.
Where can I watch it?
The game will be broadcast live on ITV.
Odds
Sweden Win: 11/10
South Korea Win: 7/2
Draw: 41/18
Prediction
Sweden 2-0 South Korea: Andersson’s team will have too much in the final third for their opponents, particularly with Emil Forsberg pulling the strings.
2 mins: There's a short pause in play which gives me just enough time to fire off an email to The Independent's sports desk enquiring, in the strongest possible language, why I have been scheduled in for another Jon Champion and Ally McCoist game.
5 mins: South Korea force the first corner of the game, a testing inswinger from the right that Robin Olsen is required to punch away. The Sweden goalkeeper was under some intense physical pressure, which the Koreans are well known for, from the rampaging Lee Jae-Sung.
9 mins: South Korea continue to dominate the ball, and have Sweden penned back in their own half. Thankfully most of the action is on the Korean left, which is in the portion of the pitch in shadow. The right side is flooded in sunshine which make the yellow Swedish shirts difficult to pick out.
12 mins: A yellow card for Kim Shin-Wook. The South Korean striker is desperate to get on the end of every loose ball, but shows too much exuberance here by diving in on Viktor Claesson and catching him on the shin. Salvadorian referee Joel Aguilar had no hesitation on cautioning the forward.
16 mins: A first opportunity for Son Heung-Min to test the Swedish defence, but the forward's run in from the left is expertly stopped by Pontus Jansson. That's the first time Tottenham Hotspur versus Leeds United has been a contest in about 15 years.
18 mins: Yesterday's other Group F encounter between Mexico and Germany was a thrilling affair, possibly my favourite game of the tournament so far (yes, better than Spain versus Portugal). This is, on the other hand, has been a drab affair. It needs something.
20 mins: It has something! What a save from Cho Hyun-Woo to deny Marcus Berg from close range! The striker looked offside as the ball pinballed its way to the Swede six yards from goal, but the flag stayed down. Berg took the shot on first time and, although it lacked accuracy to find a corner, Cho showed great reactions to block before punching to safety.
26 mins: Sweden have started to find a foothold in this match, and it's just got a lost worse for South Korea. Stretching to keep the ball in play on the touchline, Park Joo-Ho launched himself into a header but, in doing so, injured his hamstring. The defender immediately signals to the bench that this is end of his afternoon and, most probably, his World Cup.
28 mins: As Sweden win their first corner, South Korea make the change with Kim Min-Woo replacing the stricken left-back. From the set-piece, Berg threatens again at the back post following some indecisive play elsewhere. His goalbound slice is brilliantly blocked behind by Kim Young-Gwon.
34 mins: Scintillating pace from Son takes him tearing past Andreas Granqvist on the right, but the veteran Swedish defender, who plays his football in Russia, knows a trick or two. Dropping back into the middle, Granqvist, covers perfectly as Son goes about finding a teammate, turning a dangerous attack away to safety.
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