FIFA World Cup
World Cup 2018: England Beat Sweden To Reach World Cup Semifinals
Goals from Harry Maguire and Dele Alli scored helped England book their place in a first World Cup semi-final since 1990 by beating Sweden 2-0.
England moves into the Semifinals of the World Cup courtesy of two headers from Maguire and Alli on either side of halftime.
Jordan Pickford made tremendous saves to deny Marcus Berg and Viktor Claesson. England held Sweden at bay to follow up their penalty success against Colombia with a more comfortable victory. Sweden had advanced from three of their four previous World Cup quarter-finals. However, they could not find a way to beat Pickford as the Three Lions marched on to the semis.
Claesson blasted the game’s first shot over the bar in the 12th minute as both teams had loose starts due to nerves. Raheem Sterling then set up Harry Kane sho shot just wide as England started to find their feet.
Young’s outswinging corner found Maguire to power home his first international goal. While goalkeeper Robin Olsen and Ola Toivonen on the line unable to stop the defender’s downward header. Sterling’s blushes were spared by the offside flag when set up by Kieran Trippier’s long-range pass which sent him clear to miss. The forward soon wasted another chance from Jordan Henderson’s lofted through-ball.
Second Half:
Pickford took action for the first time shortly after the restart, diving to his left to superbly palm away a header from Berg, who climbed above Young at the back post.
Another England set-piece caused chaos and, although Sweden initially cleared their lines when Lingard delivered a perfect cross to the back post, Alli was there to double his side’s advantage.
Pickford made a smart stop from Claesson after he combined well with Berg. However, Janne Andersson turning to John Guidetti from the bench.
Guidetti set up strike partner Berg in the 71st minute but Pickford, who kept his first clean sheet of the World Cup, pushed the effort over the crossbar.
Such was England’s comfort in the closing stages, Henderson – at risk of missing the semi-final through suspension – could be replaced by Eric Dier as Southgate’s side moved on to Moscow.
England will face either Russia or Croatia on Wednesday in the Semifinals of the World Cup.
