England vs Sweden Match Report: Dismantled, and It’s Coming Home!

Credit: GettyImages

The England squad plane will have to shut its engine’s off for a while longer, because it does seem like they are close to bringing the World Cup home after 52 years!

England held off a very stubborn Sweden side to win 2-0 in their quarterfinal showdown. The win brings them to their first semi-final berth since 1990, and only their 3rd appearance in that stage. We all remember the heartbreaks they have been through the past decades.

Sweden set themselves up the way they have always been since their first game in the World Cup. Their style of rigid, possession football can be seen as dour at times, and has been the bane of many teams, which included the likes of Germany and South Korea, who are (or were) really high-pressing, attacking teams. It was evident that it became a problem in some occasions for England.

England, on the other hand, played their game as well, with Gareth Southgate maximising his chances with the amount of pacey players he had in the game. Harry Kane was surprisingly close to being a bystander in this game, granted that there were no penalty calls during the game. Then again, he is still top of the golden boot charts, with 6 goals to his name.

Goals from Harry Maguire and Dele Alli proved that there were some chinks in the Swedish armor, and Jordan Pickford’s heroics (let’s not forget Jordan Henderson’s follow up to that wonderful save as well), were enough to deny Sweden something to hold on to.

All in all, many don’t want to acknowledge the way England are playing right now, especially the neutrals. However, give credit to where it’s due, Southgate has revolutionised a team of stars, to a team of young talents that he can utilise to the fullest. Gone are the days where the English team saw more of the individual performances, and more days to come for this free-flow, full-on chemistry playing style.

Bear with the English fans for a while longer now, guys. As they all say: “It’s coming home”