Swedes already ranked in order of penalty prowess
SWEDEN head coach Janne Andersson has firm plans in place should his side’s last-16 tie with Switzerland need to be decided on penalties.
Both of Sunday’s knockout games went to extra-time and then ended in shoot-outs, with hosts Russia and Croatia holding their nerve against Spain and Denmark respectively.
Sweden take on Switzerland today looking for a place in the quarter-finals for the first time since USA 1994 and Andersson will leave nothing to chance in St Petersburg.
“It’s my job to decide on the players who need to perform, in the case of a penalty shoot-out situation,” said Andersson.
“We’ve talked about it in the squad of course and I’m going to rank the players, the entire squad, in terms of penalties and then we’ll have to see who’s on the pitch at that point.
“If we’ve played 120 minutes we have a clear plan in place of what we’re going to do, but I’m not going to enter into any more details.”
Sweden will be underdogs against Switzerland, who have lost just one of their previous 25 matches and are currently sixth in FIFA’s rankings.
Switzerland, attempting to reach the last eight for the first time since 1954, have not been at their best so far in the tournament, qualifying behind Group E winners Brazil.
But Bosnian coach Vladimir Petkovic has primed his side to hit the ground running against Sweden after seeing them lift their performance levels after the interval during their previous matches.
“We’ve been very fortunate so far, that is true, but what we’ve seen throughout the tournament is that in spells we have been playing very well, “he said.
“We’ve seen that we have been dangerous so far in the second half of the game.
“This time round we want to keep up that pressure from the start and I think that is going to happen.
“We have to be ready to play from the get-go in such a way to have the initiative on our side. We want our good quality to control the game.”
Sweden will be without former Sunderland midfielder Sebastian Larsson through suspension, while Switzerland captain Stephan Lichtsteiner and fellow defender Fabian Schar will also serve one-game bans. BRAZIL booked a World Cup quarter-final place as Neymar turned on the style and Mexico waved goodbye to Russia.
The broiling heat of Samara – it was around 35 degrees Celsius at kick-off – was no place for the faint-hearted and Mexico hinted at an upset for much of an even first half.
But Neymar claimed his 57th international goal six minutes into the second period before his shot was deflected into the path of substitute Roberto Firmino late on to complete Brazil’s win.
The opener was a well-crafted goal from a move started by Neymar, the latest wearer of the famous No 10 Brazil shirt.
Willian accepted his cute backheel to sprint around Hugo Ayala and Neymar, continuing his run into the penalty area, slid home the Chelsea man’s cross from a few feet out.
A last-eight place was confirmed two minutes from time when Neymar broke down the left and Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa could only parry his shot leaving Firminho, who had only been on the pitch a few moments, to apply the simplest of finishes.
It was harsh on Ochoa who had been in sparkling form making superb saves in between the two goals to stop Paulinho and then Willian from extending Brazil’s lead.
The only downside for Brazil was a yellow card for Casemiro, the influential midfielder’s second of the tournament and one which will rule him out of the quarter-final.
Mexico went into the game without the suspended Hector Moreno and their response was to draft in Rafel Marquez, the 39-year-old defender becoming the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup knockout match since England’s Stanley Matthews in 1954.