Match Report - Sweden V England: The Three Lions reach their first Semi-final in 28 years

England continues to be a surprise package in Russia after securing their place in a World Cup Semi-Final for the first time in 28 years. They managed to overcome the madness that occurred on Tuesday night against Colombia and carry out their best performance so far against a respectable Swedish team who managed to top a competitive F and beat Switzerland. 

This England team won the game with ease as many fans at home were watching the game feeling as if this was friendly at Wembley. After going into half-time 1-0, there was no anticipation in the atmosphere amid the players and fans, as the team’s performance echoed professionalism that masqueraded them of the game. 

Many people are shocked by this inexperienced side as they have shaken off the burden of underachieving left by England Squads in the past. Expectations heading into tournaments in the past have been reasonably high given the talent of the 2002 and 2006 teams represented the country, but even before this tournament, this squad was being hailed as one for the future. 

If you tuned at the end of the game it would have looked like England sailed to victory as they dominated possession throughout the second half as Sweden had given up but it was not as pretty in the first. The ball spent most of the time in the air as England failed to make a mark on the game as it seemed that the nerves had got to the players. 

All it took was a run in behind from wing-back Kieran Trippier that led to a corner. Up stepped Harry Maguire a man who was in the terraces watching England crash out to Iceland in the Euros only two years ago. He leaped higher than Forsberg and sent the ball flying into the back of the net to score his first international goal. 

Since that moment England never looked they were going to lose the game. They remained in control and created chance after chance. Twice Raheem Sterling made runs in behind and found himself one on one with Olsen and twice he failed to get on the scoresheet for his country for the first time in two years. 

Sweden were getting suffocated and needed half time. But England continued to not allow the Swedes to breathe after the break as Lingard found space outside the box and floated a ball into the far post. Dele Alli met in to score a goal that Spurs fans are so used to seeing him score. It saw the Spurs man celebrate like all the weight lifted off his shoulders as in this tournament he has looked handcuffed and constrained. 

The game was England’s first clean sheet in Russia and only one man was responsible for gaining it. Jordan Pickford’s penalty shootout heroics against Colombia seemed to have injected confidence into the young goalkeeper, as he made a hat-trick of superhuman saves to keep Sweden out of the game. 

The first saw him spring down to his left from Berg’s header, the second saw him do the same but to the right from Viktor Claesson. The third was the most astonishing, as he managed to deny Berg again from long range as he got his fingertips to a shot that was destined for the top corner. The Everton man continues to impress as after an impressive debut season for the Toffees, he now is securing his place as England no.1 for the next decade. 

The last time England were in a Semi-Final was in 1990 and only three of the current squad – Kyle Walker, Jordan Henderson, and Ashley Young – were alive to experience it. That game is where the curse upon English football began and now a new generation of players have outlived the curse and have carried their nation into a Semi-Final again.