Russia 2018: England Beat Sweden To Secure Semi-final Place

Harry Maguire, Dele Alli On Target As England Beat Sweden 2-0 To Qualify for the Semi-final placement.

FIFA World Cup 2018 Quarter Final, Highlights Sweden vs England: Dele Alli and Harry Maguire scored for England.
Sylvester Tamang

Dele Alli and Harry Maguire headers were enough for England to book a semi-final berth after a 2-0 win over Sweden in their quarter-final clash on Saturday.

Maguire’s header had given England a slender 1-0 lead at halftime. Alli’s second half header ensured England comfortably got past Sweden.

It was a match of interesting times as both teams tried hard to secure placement in the semis.

A double save by English keeper Jordan Pickford kept England in the game. Both Marcus Berg’s shots were blocked by Pickford as Sweden’s best chances fell the striker’s way.

Earlier in the first half, Maguire had given England the lead in the 30th minute after a towering header off Ashley Young’s corner kick.

Raheem Sterling had the best chance to double England’s lead but the Swedish keeper kept his team in the game going in the halftime. Before that, the early minutes saw a cagey start between them as neither teams tried to attack.

After the initial slow start, both teams began to open up and made a few chances. England’s Dele Alli won a good ball in the middle early on but his final pass meant for Harry Kane wasn’t up to the mark.

Kane again gave a looping pass to Sterling but that was dealt well by the Swedish defence. Sweden began to grow into the game but England kept their nerves. The first thirty minutes saw only one shot on target for England. England got the first corner of the match on the half-hour mark but it hardly troubled the Swedish keeper.

England is then awaiting for winners from the match of Russia and Croatia tonight. Winners from that end will play England in the semis of the 2018 world Cup.