FIFA World Cup 2018: Short Glimpse At England vs Sweden

To get a better understanding of how these teams have come along. How they have performed and what can be expected from them in these upcoming ties, we will take a glimpse at them. In the third game of the quarterfinal, we have England vs Sweden.

This is our attempt at recapping the teams, their strengths and their weakness. Let’s take a look at both the teams individually.

England vs Sweden:

• England

The dream of the winning their second FIFA World Cup title is truly on, and for the first time in a long time, the whole nation is behind the team as well.

Gareth Southgate who is the coach of England has done a good job of making the team believing in their abilities and not be intimidated by anyone. Rather than exploiting the opposite team’s weaknesses, this team is using their strengths. A tactic that will always come in handy when the going gets tough.

They did face some problems against Tunisia in the first game, where captain Harry Kane scored a 90th-minute winner.

While facing Panama, England absolutely ran past the team as they buried six goals in that game.

Their first real test came against Belgium, where both the teams deployed a second string squad. They did lose that game but it was down to the brilliance of Adnan Janujaz.

In the Round of 16 game, Colombia tried all they could, but couldn’t stop England’s momentum. It was a game ridden with fouls and it was a disappointing spectacle to witness.

As a matter of fact, it was in this game that England broke the penalty shootout curse and won their first ever in the World cup history to book their Quarter-Final place.

The team is youthful, dynamic and fearless. They have the talent and ability to go all the way, the only thing they need to do is believe.

Strengths: Their captain Harry Kane, Solid defence

Weaknesses: Too much dependency on Harry Kane, Midfield not contributing

• Sweden

The Scandinavian side has come out all guns blazing this tournament. A lot of talks were done about their chances without Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but the team has silenced every single critic who doubted them.

They have proven to be a difficult team to defeat. Germany had to rely on luck and Toni Kroos to beat them, but everyone else has failed. They use their physicality as an advantage and this is been a problem for their opponents.

The first game against South Korea was a competitive matchup. They won that game with the help of a penalty scored by captain Andres Granqvist.

Even though they were extremely unlucky to lose against  Germany, the team bounced back to thump Mexico with a 3-0 scoreline. In doing so they avenged their loss against the defending champions by knocking them out of the competition.

When they took on Switzerland in the Round of 16, everybody yet againt expected them to lose.

Lo and behold, The Blue-Yellow were the ones who came out on top one more time.

Their captain has led them from the front. Defending the lineup and organising it to an absolute perfection.

With the likes of Emil Forsberg, Ola Toivonen and Marcus Berg in the attacking department, the team has goals within them to win games.

Strengths: Defensive rocks, Strong physicality

Weaknesses: Weak strikers, Lack of experience