LIVE: Sweden v Switzerland | World Cup 2018
Match info:
Round of 16
Venue: St. Petersburg Stadium
Kick-off: 10h00 ET Canada-USA | 16:00 Cairo Local Time
Neither Switzerland nor Sweden is accustomed to taking part in World Cup quarter-finals, but as the teams prepare to face off at the St. Petersburg Stadium, they each stand on the verge of booking a spot among the world’s best eight teams.
Sweden is on a high following their 3-0 drubbing of Mexico, which saw them clinch top spot in Group F. This came after a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Germany, which followed a 1-0 win over South Korea.
Janne Andersson has maximised the potential of his squad in order to get them through tricky patches in qualification and the group stage. He has encouraged his team to be at the top of their game once again.
“It’s a situation again where we have to reach our personal best,” he said.
“I know I keep on repeating it, but I think it’s a very good description on what is needed from us both as individuals and as a team.
“We need to reach our absolute highest level, then we will have the chance to beat Switzerland as well.”
Switzerland began the World Cup with a creditable 1-1 draw with Brazil and a 2-1 comeback win over Serbia, but a 2-2 draw with Costa Rica brought them back down to earth.
“We’ve been very fortunate so far, that is true, but what we’ve seen throughout the tournament is that in spells we have been playing very well,” coach Vladimir Petkovic told a press conference.
“We’ve seen that we have been dangerous so far in the second half of the game.
“This time around, we want to keep up that pressure from the start, and I think that is going to happen.”
Team news:
Both teams will have to make do despite suspensions to key players. The experienced Sebastian Larsson misses out for Sweden, while Fabian Schar and captain Stephan Lichtsteiner have been sidelined for the Swiss.
Michael Lang and Johan Djourou are expected to be tasked with keeping out a Swedish attack which has proved surprisingly effective at the World Cup, even in the absence of Ibrahimovic.
LIVE: Sweden v Switzerland
TV Will be updated automatically on game time
https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ku36ia57IV4
