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England and Sweden renew rivalry
Thanks to a late goal over Paraguay, Sweden have a chance to win Group B with a victory over England when the two sides go head-to-head in Cologne on Tuesday.
England are +150 to win the match Sweden are +240 underdogs The Draw is priced +160
With two victories in their first two matches, England have already qualified for the second round. Sweden, who have a win and a draw from their first two matches, only need another draw to book their spot in the round of 16. If they win their final match they will finish first in Group B.
Despite both teams sitting comfortably in the group standings, neither side has lived up to expectations in this tournament. England only got past Paraguay in their opening match because of an own goal in the 3rd minute that gave them a 1-0 victory. In their following match, England waited until the final seven minutes to score and defeat Trinidad & Tobago 2-0. They were expected to make short work of the Trinidadians, but looked out of sorts for most of the game.
Sweden cannot claim to have played any better. After being held to a stunning scoreless draw by Trinidad & Tobago in their first game, Sweden were on their way to the same result against Paraguay in their second match. But Freddie Ljungberg would save the day, and possibly the tournament, for Sweden. His 89th minute goal lifted the Swedes to a 1-0 win and three points in the group standings.
On the injury front, Wayne Rooney returned to the England lineup as a second-half substitution against Trinidad and Tobago. He can be expected to play against Sweden. Sweden may be without their star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was forced to make an early exit from the Paraguay match because of a groin injury.
Unlike their first two matches against weaker opponents, neither England nor Sweden are heavily favoured in this game. In fact, the draw is the most likely result, according to the bookmakers, because it would suit both teams. It could also be a more open, free flowing match, since neither team risks elimination.
History does not favour Sven Goran Eriksson’s men. England are winless against Sweden since 1968, including a 1-0 loss to the Swedes in March 2004 and a 1-1 draw in the group stage of the 2002 World Cup.
Thanks to a late goal over Paraguay, Sweden have a chance to win Group B with a victory over England when the two sides go head-to-head in Cologne on Tuesday.
England are +150 to win the match Sweden are +240 underdogs The Draw is priced +160
With two victories in their first two matches, England have already qualified for the second round. Sweden, who have a win and a draw from their first two matches, only need another draw to book their spot in the round of 16. If they win their final match they will finish first in Group B.
Despite both teams sitting comfortably in the group standings, neither side has lived up to expectations in this tournament. England only got past Paraguay in their opening match because of an own goal in the 3rd minute that gave them a 1-0 victory. In their following match, England waited until the final seven minutes to score and defeat Trinidad & Tobago 2-0. They were expected to make short work of the Trinidadians, but looked out of sorts for most of the game.
Sweden cannot claim to have played any better. After being held to a stunning scoreless draw by Trinidad & Tobago in their first game, Sweden were on their way to the same result against Paraguay in their second match. But Freddie Ljungberg would save the day, and possibly the tournament, for Sweden. His 89th minute goal lifted the Swedes to a 1-0 win and three points in the group standings.
On the injury front, Wayne Rooney returned to the England lineup as a second-half substitution against Trinidad and Tobago. He can be expected to play against Sweden. Sweden may be without their star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was forced to make an early exit from the Paraguay match because of a groin injury.
Unlike their first two matches against weaker opponents, neither England nor Sweden are heavily favoured in this game. In fact, the draw is the most likely result, according to the bookmakers, because it would suit both teams. It could also be a more open, free flowing match, since neither team risks elimination.
History does not favour Sven Goran Eriksson’s men. England are winless against Sweden since 1968, including a 1-0 loss to the Swedes in March 2004 and a 1-1 draw in the group stage of the 2002 World Cup.
