SWEDES ARE THE WORLD CHAMPIONS OF TEAM SPIRIT... THEY’LL BE HARDER TO BEAT THAN BRAZIL
SVEN GORAN ERIKSSON says England will fear another Iceland disaster when they face Sweden in their World Cup showdown.
And he believes they would have a better chance were they playing Brazil rather than his countrymen in Saturday’s quarter-final.
The former Three Lions boss rates this game England’s toughest test to date and is confident Sweden are capable of repeating Iceland’s shock Euros win two years ago.
Eriksson said: “England have a great chance to make a World Cup semi-final. But if anyone in the squad thinks they have an easy game on Saturday, they’re wrong. It will be the most difficult game so far, they can bet on that.
“It would be easier for England to beat Brazil than to beat Sweden in my opinion,
“Sweden today are a very hard team to break down. Their strikers are defenders when it’s time to defend and they can defend in their own box as well.
“Sweden will be more or less the same as Iceland in Euro 2016. They don’t have the best footballers in the world, and none of our players would play in the first team of the biggest clubs in the world since Zlatan has left.
“But, as a team, the way they work together, they’re one of the best. You won’t find a better team. Sweden are world champions of team spirit.”
Eriksson was in charge of England’s Golden Generation and the likes of Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes struggled against Sweden. The nations have played 24 times, England edge it with nine wins – none in their four meetings under Eriksson – Sweden have eight.
Eriksson insists that, despite Harry Kane leading the Golden Boot list with six goals, Sweden will not fear him and that the game could go to penalties.
He added: “Harry Kane will be a tougher challenge than they’re used to, but Sweden won’t be impressed by Kane – or whoever is in the England team. Not at all.
“Kane can be a matchwinner. They have speed in Vardy, even if not the most technical player, and Sterling. They have speed in Rashford, who is dynamite. They are very good at counter-attacks but won’t get many chances of that against Sweden.
“Sweden won’t change anything. They’ll be 4-4-2, organised, let England have the ball, no problem. They’ll wait.
“Sweden are so difficult to break down. They are very solid and really tough. If you woke them in the middle of the night, they’d know every position in defending – any possibility in the game, they know what to do. I can see a draw and extra-time.
‘‘England have set-pieces, Sweden will make some chances, but the game will come down to luck – the team that makes the most of their luck will win.
“Many teams have tried to break down Sweden. Italy couldn’t score in 180 minutes in the qualifying play-offs. Germany struggled in the group stage and needed Toni Kroos’ free-kick to save them. Switzerland could have played for a week and still not scored.
“England went through on penalties for once. That will be great for their confidence.
“My brain says England, though my heart says Sweden.”
Sweden defender Victor Lindelof also warned about underestimating the team.
The £30million Manchester United centre-back said: “We’re a nation to be taken seriously. We’ve played good teams and they’ve had difficult games.
“It’s tough for opponents because we work very hard for each other. There’s no space for them out there.”
Sven Goran Eriksson was speaking exclusively to Paddy Power News. Read more at news.paddypower.com
If you woke the Swedes up in the middle of the night, they would know every position in defending – any possibility in the game