World Cup 2018 Quarter-Finals Preview: Team-By-Team Guide

Sweden

Sweden celebrate their 1-0 victory over Switzerland

Pre-Tournament

While few people expected anything special from Sweden in this World Cup, there were signs that something was building during their qualification campaign. Finishing as runners-up to a strong French side in their qualifying group, the Swedes eliminated the Netherlands in the process and set up a two-legged playoff tie against Italy. Defensive solidity helped them shock the Italians with a 1-0 aggregate win and earn their place in Russia.

The Story So Far

Placed in a group with World Cup holders, Germany, the Swedes were expected to battle for second place with Mexico. Their opening game against South Korea kicked off their campaign perfectly with a 1-0 victory, leaving them in a very good position to qualify thanks to Mexico's shock win over Germany. A solid performance against the Germans led to heartbreak for the Swedes when Toni Kroos netted a winner in stoppage time and left Sweden needing a victory in their final game against Mexico to progress. Sweden announced themselves on the biggest stage with a stunning 3-0 win over Mexico, topping the group and earning plaudits worldwide.

Switzerland awaited in the last 16, and an attritional match ensued. The Swedes worked hard and stuck to their gameplan in impressive fashion to run out 1-0 winners and progress to the quarter-finals for the first time since 1994. This was the first time Sweden has won back to back World Cup games since they hosted the tournament in 1958 with their discipline and teamwork making them a tough proposition for any side to face.

What's Next

An intriguing match against England is Sweden's reward for dispatching Switzerland. While many questioned the call to exclude Zlatan Ibrahimovic from the World Cup squad before the tournament began, the Swedes are functioning better as a unit without their all-time top scorer and England will not relish the task of breaking down the Swedish defense. Confidence is continually growing in the Swedish camp and they will feel they can progress to their first World Cup Semi-Finals since they finished as runners-up in 1958.