Mitch Freeley

You can watch the stream of Sweden Vs England Live & Exclusive on beIN SPORTS CONNECT.

Match Report

Harry Maguire and Dele Alli scored headers as England booked their place in a first World Cup semi-final since 1990 by beating Sweden 2-0.

Maguire and Alli struck either side of half-time in Samara on Saturday to move the Three Lions into the last four, and they will face either Croatia or hosts Russia on Wednesday.

England dominated after making a slow start, Maguire scoring from Ashley Young's left-wing corner after half an hour to put Gareth Southgate's side on track. 

Jordan Pickford made tremendous saves to deny Marcus Berg and Viktor Claesson either side of Alli doubling England's lead, the midfielder nodding in Jesse Lingard's centre.

Although the World Cup's top scorer Harry Kane was muted, England held Sweden at bay to follow up their penalty success against Colombia with a more comfortable victory.

Sweden had advanced from three of their four previous World Cup quarter-finals but could not find a way to beat Pickford as the Three Lions marched on to the semis.

Claesson hammered the game's first shot over the crossbar in the 12th minute as a cagey start saw both sides play loose passes due to early nerves.

Raheem Sterling then set up Golden Boot leader Kane, who slotted wide, with England - playing in their first World Cup quarter-final since 2006 - starting to find their feet.

And they took the lead in the 30th minute with their eighth set-piece goal of the tournament.

Young's outswinging corner found Maguire to power home his first international goal, goalkeeper Robin Olsen and Ola Toivonen on the line unable to stop the defender's downward header.

The offside flag spared Sterling's blushes when Kieran Trippier's long-range pass sent him clear to miss and the forward soon wasted another chance from Jordan Henderson's lofted throughball.

Olsen did well initially with a strong hand to deny Sterling, who dallied with the rebound and allowed Andreas Granqvist to make a vital block.

Pickford was called into action for the first time shortly after the restart, diving to his left to superbly palm away a header from Berg, who climbed above Young at the back post.

The importance of that terrific save was made clearer as England struck again in the 58th minute.

Another England set-piece caused chaos and, although Sweden initially cleared their lines when Lingard delivered a perfect cross to the back post, Alli was there to double his side's advantage.

Pickford made a smart stop from Claesson after he combined well with Berg, Sweden coach Janne Andersson turning to John Guidetti from the bench.

Guidetti teed up strike partner Berg in the 71st minute but Pickford, who kept his first clean sheet of the World Cup, tipped the effort over the crossbar.

Such was England's comfort in the closing stages, Henderson - at risk of missing the semi-final through suspension - could be replaced by Eric Dier as Southgate's side moved on to Moscow.

Live Updates

Second Half

90- PEEP! All over in Samara! England are through to the World Cup Semi-final for the first time in 28 years! Wow! Drink it in! Match Report to follow! 

90+3 Seb Larsson gets a yellow for tripping Harry Kane. 

90+2 A rousing rendition of God Save our Queen from the England fans. We know, they know. England bar a horror show in the next three minutes are in the semi-finals of the World Cup. Oh my word. 

90- Five minutes of extra time! Raheem Sterling, who has been so, so very good makes way. Marcus Rashford is on. 

90- Augustinsson smashes the ball high into the stand. 

88- Maguire pushes down Granqvist. Dangerous looking free-kick just outside the box for Sweden. 

86- First yellow card of the game for Magure, who slices down Guidetti

85- Lingard is tripped up, freekick another opportunity for Tripper to launch one into the box. 

83- Henerson is off, Eric Dier England's penalty hero from the round of sixteen is on. Sub for Sweden Krafth is off for Pontus Jansson.

82- Trippier wins a free-kick, is effort is knocked out for a goal-kick. 

80- Sweden really needs to get going if they are going to get back into this, they seem a little flat. 

74- Deli Alli is subbed off to a warm applause from the England fans in Samara, Alli doesn't look too happy with it. Fabian Delph is on. 

71- Jordan Pickford with another stop, this time to deny Marcus Berg. Fingertips from the Everton stopper. That's three top-class saves today.

70- I missed a sub for Sweden (Please forgive me)  Martin Olsson is on for Emil Forsberg. 

68- England is dominating here. Alli's shot is out for England's sixth corner of the game, disappointingly it comes to nothing. 

65- Mad scramble in the Sweden box from Trippiers corner. Henerson heads the ball across the goal to reach Harry Maguire who is running onto, the defender smashes his effort high and wide. 

64- Sub for Sweden, Toivonen is off and John Guidetti is on! 

61- What a save from Pickford! Claesson with a drilled shot rounds off a fine passing move for Sweden, The Everton keeper plunges to his left to save. 

57- Goal! Lingard with a chipped ball into the back post, Alli is on the end of it! A lovely header past Olsen. 2-0 surely that's game over. 

56- Lingard flashes a shot towards goal, Krafth blocks it's a corner for England. Which is wasted, but The Three Lions keep the ball well. Pressure mounting! 

Gareth Southgate lookalike watch!

53- It's a good free-kick, Maguire at the back post, Sterling attempts an overhead kick, which comes to nothing. 

52- Kane picks up the ball, wanders around a few Swedish players before being bundled down, it's a free-kick for England. 

51- Just seen a replay of the Berg header, it's a big strong arm from Pickford. 

49- Forsberg springs away for Sweden, it looks dangerous but Trippier is on hand to halt the progress of the midfielder, Sweden showing a little more attacking intent in the second half. 

45- Berg with a header! A great save from Jordan Pickford to deny the Al Ain striker. 

Peep- England, who are all in red get us back underway in Samara. 

Half-Time insight! Paul Scholes is at it again! 

First Half

Peep- Halftime! Harry Maguires first ever goal for England is the difference maker! 1-0 England looks good for their lead. Join me in 15 for more World Cup fun! 

45- Same ball, this time Sterling is onside, he takes it around Olsen, but can't compose himself! His hashed shot is out for a corner. 

44- A very late offside flag on Raheem Sterling

42-Trippier with a long ball to Sterling, the Man City man can't quite get the ball under his control in the box. Lindelöf clears.  

40- Sterling zips down the wing and into the Swedish box, his clipped cross finds Lingard at the near post his back-heel-come-volley is blocked by Granqvist

36- Dangerous free-kick for Sweden, Maguire heads away. Towering. 

34- England are bossing possession, carefully playing the ball around, the ball sits up for Henderson who smashes a shot well over. The Liverpool midfielder apologies to Trippier for his error. 

30- Goal! Harry Maguire plants it! Olsen can't reach it!  What a textbook corner! 1-0 England! 

29- Trippier with a deep cross... Granqvist out for a corner. 

26-Granqvist surges forward for Sweden, his pass goes out for a throw-in. Pretty much sums up the game. 

22- Lingard squares it to Trippier, the Spurs fullback drills the ball in an attempted cross, Olsen gathers. 

18- First Chance of note for England. Sterling's run causes mayhem in the Swedish ranks, the ball falls to Kane who snatches the shot which trickles wide. 

16-  Sweden pump the ball down the channel John Stones guides the ball out under pressure from Toivonen

12- Viktor Claesson has a pot shot, it's well over. Jordan Pickford is not happy, he shouts abuse at the England defenders who didn't close down the Swedish midfielder. 

8-Granqvist smashes the ball out for a corner, under pressure from Raheem Sterling. It comes to nothing. It's been a cagey start. 

7- Long throw into the box for Sweden. Granqvist gets a hand to the ball, free-kick England. 

6- Dele Alli with a through ball to Harry Kane it's too long, but an encouraging start. 

5- Sterling wins a free-kick, England get the ball rolling quickly. Kyle Walker attempts a crossfield ball to Ashley Young, it's wasted. 

2- Henderson with a long ball up to Sterling, Krafth heads it calmly to Olsen. It's a very quiet start. 

1- Walker mishits a pass into Marcus Berg, England regain the ball. Easy does it.. 

Peep! Sweden get us underway! 

Preamble

The National Anthems! It's nearly game time in Samara! 

Pregame chat with Gareth Southgate... DONE! 

Sorry for spamming the Live Updates with Paul Scholes, but this is gold from the former England man, lamenting the wasted talent of the golden generation. 

"What a waste that was."

Scholes explains why #ENG's "Golden Generation" never did as well as the current team.#beiNRussia #beINFWC #WorldCup #SWEENG pic.twitter.com/kzZFOt40EJ — beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) July 7, 2018

More insight from the ginger genius! He's had his say on Dele Alli, who's in line for a big game today. 

Scholes has concerns about @dele_official's fitness and form.#beiNRussia #beINFWC #WorldCup #SWEENG pic.twitter.com/mGrftq6Vf7 — beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) July 7, 2018

In another form of news! Why not enjoy some lovely beIN News! Even Tennis gets a mention! Kate Mason with all the latest! 

#WorldCup News with @kvlmason.#beiNRussia #beINFWC pic.twitter.com/nbXCB4cpTU — beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) July 7, 2018

Team News! We have the team news! No changes for England after their penalty win over Colombia. As for Sweden, two changes made! Celtic defender  Mikael Lustig is suspended, Emil Krafth replaces him. And Sebastian Larsson is back from a ban so he replaces Gustav Svensson.

#SWEENG // TEAM NEWS

Here are your Starting XIs, #SWE and #ENG fans! #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/f0lrHTYfh9 — FIFA World Cup 🏆 (@FIFAWorldCup) July 7, 2018

Some more insight from the former Manchester United man! He's calling for England not to underestimate their opponents in Samara! 

Paul Scholes warns #ENG not to underestimate #SWE.#beINRussia #beINFWC #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/mDv2v3k4uE — beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) July 7, 2018

Right! So here we go again! We have one of the greatest midfielders of his generation, Mr Paul Scholes as a pundit for the big game. He popped in a little early for a chat with the guys on the Express. Check out his insights below! 

Hello! Welcome to the Live Updates of Sweden Vs England. It promises to be a cracker in Samara, can Sweden reach the World Cup semi-finals for the first time since 94? Can England reach the final four for the first time since Italia 90? We will find out in the next few hours! We have you sorted with all the Live Updates, including video highlights on the beIN SPORTS website! Join in the fun!  

Preview

Sweden & England face off in Samara with a place in the final four on the line. Both sides have been solid if not spectacular during the 2018 tournament and will be aiming for another defensively sound performance to book a place in the semi-finals. 

Janne Andersson’s side is dreaming of a first semi-final since 1994 and put in a resolute performance to edge out Switzerland 1-0 in the round of sixteen. It will be more of the same against the Three Lions, as Sweden will look to sit back and defend, and spring forward on the counter attack. 

In team news, Sunderland midfielder Sebastian Larsson returns after serving his suspension. Although right back Mikael Lustig is unavailable due to suspension, expect Emil Krafth to fill in for the Celtic defender. 

Emil Forsberg was the difference maker against Switzerland, and the RB Leipzig playmaker to have a key role in Samara. Forsberg is the best technical player in the side, and if the 26-year old is decisive in the final third as he was against Switzerland expect Sweden to book their place in the final four. 

Sweden Predicted Team
Olsen; Krafth, Lindelöf, Granqvist, Augustinsson; Claesson, Larsson, Ekdal, Forsberg; Berg, Toivonen

How to watch Online- beIN SPORTS CONNECT
TV Channel- MAX HD3
Kick-off- 17:00
Stadium- Samara Arena, Samara

As for England, they dramatically sealed their place in the quarter-finals with a 4-3 penalty shootout victory over Colombia, the first time the Three Lions have won on penalties at a World Cup. Gareth Southgate’s side will now go about the task of breaking down Sweden and reaching the World Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1990. 

The onus will be on England to create chances in Samara, just as it was against Colombia and the pressure will be on the Three Lions as a nation expects that the World Cup could come home for the first time since 1966. 

Harry Maguire was the standout player against Colombia, and the Leicester defender will have a crucial role to play if England is to reach the final four. Solid defensively, and a threat from set-pieces going forward, the 25-year is expected to be tested against the likes of Marcus Berg in the Swedish attack. Providing Maguire can put in a solid performance, England has a good chance of reaching the semi-finals. 

England Predicted Team
Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire; Trippier, Dele, Henderson, Lingard, Young; Sterling, Kane

It promises to be a fascinating encounter Sweden & England battle it out for a place in the semi-finals of the World Cup.  Watch the Live & Exclusive stream of the game on MAX HD3 & beIN SPORTS CONNECT.