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Manchester United stars lineup against each other as England take on Sweden – official team news

By Ollie Slack

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England take on Sweden this afternoon for a place in the World Cup semi-finals in Russia. As many as five Manchester United players could feature for the sides as we bring you the official team news here.

Both sides will be hoping to reach the semi-finals, in what would be a rare occurrence for both sides. England have only reached the semi-finals twice. Losing on one occasion and going on to win the tournament on the other.

Sweden, on the other hand, have reached the semi-finals four times already but have only managed to go on and reach the final from that position once.

How did both sides fare in the Last 16?

Sweden managed to win a drab contest between themselves and Switzerland on Tuesday. Both sides were content with sitting back and trying to hit the other on the counter-attack. However, this made for a very sterile contest.
Sweden managed to win a drab contest between themselves and Switzerland on Tuesday. Both sides were content with sitting back and trying to hit the other on the counter-attack. However, this made for a very sterile contest. /

The most likely scenario, other than the match ending 0-0 and going to penalties, was for a moment of brilliance to win the game. That was left to Emil Forsberg who opened the scoring after brilliantly creating space before his deflected shot flew into the Swiss net.

England’s match did go to penalties. And despite never winning a World Cup shootout beforehand, Eric Dier’s spot-kick removed the old hoodoo to send the Three Lions through.

England dominated the match with Harry Kane giving his side the lead from the penalty spot. Gareth Southgate’s men looked as though they didn’t need the additional 30 minutes but a late Yerry Mina header took the game to extra time.

So it was left for the game to be decided on penalties and Jordan Pickford saved before Eric Dier slotted home to book England’s place in the semi-finals.

CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS

ENGLAND: 1. Pickford, 2. Walker, 5. Stones, 6. Maguire, 12. Trippier, 20. Dele, 8. Henderson, 7. Lingard, 18. Young, 10. Sterling, 9. Kane.

SWEDEN: 1. Olsen, 16. Krafth, 3. Lindelof, 4. Granqvist, 6. Augustinsson, 17. Claesson, 7. Larsson, 8. Ekdal, 10. Frosberg, 9. Berg, 20. Toivonen.

Where will the game be won and lost?

I expect Sweden to sit very deep. Victor Lindelof and Andreas Granqvist have been a terrific centre-back pairing this World Cup. Against Germany, they both threw their body in front of everything and were unlucky to come out on the losing side.
I expect Sweden to sit very deep. Victor Lindelof and Andreas Granqvist have been a terrific centre-back pairing this World Cup. Against Germany, they both threw their body in front of everything and were unlucky to come out on the losing side. /

England will need to be patient and not force the ball through the Sweden wall. There will not be a lot of space in behind for the likes of Sterling and Lingard to run into, but England have shown already they can defeat teams who sit back.

Against Panama and Tunisia, England got back into their defensive shape quickly luring the opposition forward and then pressing them high to win the ball back. If England can do this and the counter with the likes of Lingard, Dele and Sterling they can tear any team apart.

Next: See where England and Sweden's Manchester United stars rank in the latest World Cup player rankings!

If Sweden stay resilient however and remain parked like a bus, England may have to rely on a set-piece to get them out of trouble. With the likes of Trippier and Young on corners and free-kicks though, they look very threatening from dead-ball situations.

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