SWEDEN 0, ENGLAND 2
Harry Maguire and Dele Alli scored the goals that knocked Sweden out of the World Cup and booked England a first semi final appearance since 1990.
Jordan Pickford was no less the hero when he denied Marcus Berg three times to keep his first clean sheet of the tournament – the youngest England keeper to keep a clean sheet at the World Cup at the age of 24 – as England marched on in these finals with a comfortable win.
England were unchanged from the penalty win over Colombia with Ashley Young and Kyle Walker recovering from minor knocks suffered to line up against the Swedes.
Sweden had to make an enforced change with Mikael Lustig suspended after collecting his second booking of the tournament and was replaced by Emil Krafth while Seb Larsson returned from suspension to replace Gustav Svensson in midfield.
It was tough going for England in the early stages with Sweden, as expected, happy to sit back and defend. That’s how it stayed for the bulk of the first half.
Viktor Claesson’s early long range shot was the only action of note in a tentative first few minutes before Sterling’s run unsettled the Swedish defence before he teed up Harry Kane for a shot from the edge of the area after 20 minutes that was screwed wide by the England captain.
Harry Maguire scores another set piece for England to open the scoring
England prised open the Swedish defence after half an hour when they won a corner and Ashley Young delivered from a great set piece which was gobbled up by Harry Maguire with a header that flew past Robin Olsen from 12 yards out.
It was the eighth of England’s ten goals at this World Cup at that point to be delivered from a set piece and at least perked up a crowd that was becoming subdued.
With the game getting more direct, Raheem Sterling contrived to miss massive chances to extend England’s lead at the end of the first half.
A danger throughout the first half with his direct running – pulling his team mates further up the field, the City winger was denied by poor finishing and some last ditch defending by Olsen and his defenders when in a position to score.
His confidence might have been hit when he was flagged offside with just Olsen to beat but only after the Swedish ‘keeper had denied him.
Sterling did beat the offside trap after a long pass by Henderson but while his first touch put him through on goal he hesitated and the chance was lost.
His final chance started with a great first touch after a pass by Henderson left him one on one with Olsen but the Swedish ‘keeper closed the gap and repelled the ball again with help from Granqvist.
England had to be on their toes after the restart – Ludwig Augustinsson’s cross met Marcus Berg whose header was beaten away by Jordan Pickford – a massive save at the start of the second half.
Dele Alli doubles the England lead over Sweden
England finally doubled their lead with Dele Alli arriving to nod home a Jesse Lingard’s placed lob into the area from four yards out in the 58th minute.
Sweden were denied another chance to score four minutes later – Toivonen’s lay off found Berg who was denied again by Pickford who went down quickly while Henderson blocked Berg’s follow-up.
Sweden made a double change with Martin Olsson and ex-Manchester City striker John Guidetti coming on for Emil Forsberg and Ola Toivonen.
Maguire skied a chance after 66 minutes when Sweden failed to clear sustained England pressure and the ball fell to him at the back post.
Jordan Pickford denies three Sweden goal chances
Guidetti found Berg with a cutback but the luckless striker was denied yet again by Pickford who touched his rising shot over the bar.
Alli was given a rest after 76 minutes with Fabian Delph, back in Russia following the birth of his daughter, came on to shore up England’s midfield and Eric Dier replaced Henderson with six minutes to go.
And two Manchester City team mates could have carved out a final chance as Sterling and Delph left the ball to each other inside the Sweden box late on.
Sweden had a 90th minute free kick from 25 yards to at least earn a consolation goal but Augustinsson blazed over, underlining the wastefulness that had cost them throughout the game.
Instead, Sterling was replaced by Marcus Rashford in the first of five minutes of added time which England professionally saw out.
Sweden vs England – MATCH STATS
Sweden: Olsen, Krafth (Jansson 85), Lindelof, Granqvist, Augustinsson, Claesson, Larsson, Ekdal, Forsberg (Olsson 65), Berg, Toivonen (Guidetti 65)
Booking: Guidetti 87
England: Pickford, Trippier, Walker, Stones, Maguire, Young, Henderson (Dier 84), Lingard, Alli (Delph 76), Sterling (Rashford 90+1), Kane
Booked: Maguire 87
Goals: Maguire 30; Alli 58