Proud new father Granqvist is ready to tackle the daddy of all games for Sweden
Sweden captain Andreas Granqvist is happy to delay meeting his newborn daughter if it means extending his World Cup dream at England’s expense.
Granqvist’s wife Sophie gave birth to the couple’s second daughter, Mika, overnight yesterday while the veteran defender continued preparations for his side’s quarterfinal in Samara.
England midfielder Fabian Delph missed the last-16 victory against Colombia to be there for the arrival of his third child but Granqvist was under instruction from Sophie not to leave his team-mates.
“It was good timing. I didn’t sleep very much last night, so I’m glad that it’s happened now,” the 33-year-old told a pre-match press conference.
“My wife did a wonderful job back home. Everything went well. Both baby, my daughter, and wife are doing really well.”
“It’s quite simple, getting a daughter is the most beautiful thing you can get.”
A place in the last four also figures high on the Swede’s hit list, with the Helsingborgs centre-half admitting: “It’s a dream for every football player to play a quarter-final in the World Cup. I’m raring to go.”
Granqvist and Manchester United’s Victor Lindelof will become the latest pair to try their hand at shackling tournament top-scorer Harry Kane today.
Kane has netted six times in three games so far, including three from the penalty spot, and will be hungry for more at Samara Arena.
“We have been very strong on set-pieces but this is one of England’s strengths as well and they have Harry Kane, who is really dangerous in the penalty box,” said the Swede.
“We need to be very strong in the box and make sure they don’t get the service they need. He is incredibly skilled, not just on penalties, but as a striker – he is good at everything. It’s going to be a very tough match against him but we’re going to do everything to stop him.”
Sweden expect to have Albin Ekdal and Jimmy Durmaz available after injury, with former Birmingham, Sunderland and Hull midfielder Seb Larsson back from suspension.
Celtic’s Mikael Lustig will be missing after collecting two yellow cards.