Foolish to dismiss the Swiss

ENGLAND manager Gareth Southgate has been told he has made a mistake if he thinks losing to Belgium in the final group game has given him an easy passage to the last four. After finishing second in Group G, England will face the winner of today’s game between Switzerland and Sweden in the last eight — if they beat Colombia this evening. But Switzerland manager Vladimir Petkovic believes whoever wins today in St Petersburg is capable of upsetting England. Petkovic said: ‘Perhaps we have been very fortunate so far. But you have seen that we have played really well. So we are not weak opponents. England have made good progress as well. They have created a great team but I know we can be a surprise to those who underestimate us.’ Few would have tipped either of these teams as quarter-finalists but Sweden came through a group involving Germany to reach the last 16 after seeing off Italy in qualifying. Switzerland, meanwhile, drew with Brazil in their opening game of the tournament before beating Serbia. Today’s game looks like being a niggly affair after the Swedes tried to wind up their opponents. Sweden’s Celtic defender Mikael Lustig is reported to have said that his teammates will target Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka with a view to getting him sent off. But the fiery Arsenal player said: ‘It’s just part of the pre-match provocations. I’m confident I won’t be squeezed by them. There are many other goals ahead.’ The wife of Sweden captain Andreas Granqvist is due to give birth but the centre back said: ‘I’m fully focused on the game and my wife is very strong.’