Sweden Outmuscles Switzerland 1-0

Photo Credit: FIFA.com/Getty Images

Sweden 1- Switzerland 0

In an unexpected round of 16 clash Sweden showed they were a team of destiny as they fought with Switzerland to a 1-0 victory. The win means progression to the quarterfinals for the first time since the 1994 edition of the World Cup.

Entering the fray media types pumped this up as a lucky draw for either team for the knockout phase of the World Cup. Each team is not one with world class stars and yet they are of pieces who have functioned within this tournament and earned verifiable results.\

Within the first 45 minutes each squad found that they were capable of having opportunities but the question was if the talent would make those come good.

Switzerland has converted opportunities in the group phase but putting Haris Seferovic and Breel Embolo on the bench showed a lets wait and see approach. Fault cannot lie in the selection as Switzerland found six scoring opportunities as opposed to Sweden’s four.

Sweden was a little more bold in their 11 selection than their opposition. Emil Forsberg on the wing would play his part later but had been marked out of the first half.

Switzerland kept piling on the pressure but kicking off the second half showed that each team was more open than they have been seen in the tournament so far. Opening things up for each country is not a normal occurrence but how often do they compete for a World Cup quarterfinal.

Back on the Forsberg band wagon, this Bundesliga player is part of the team that opens things up and with the Swiss defense being stretched this star pounced. Dribbling across the top of the box a right footed shot took a chance deflection sending keeper Yann Sommer the other way and everyone including the Royal Swedish family went banana’s.

Mark it down from the goal in the 66th minute and slowly the Swiss turned form neutrality to a aggressive side. Subs of the attaching variety were added but as Germany found Sweden is able to shore up the defense as everyone is fighting for the cause.

With the midfield four backed by four defenders the pressure was placed on the now unbalanced Swiss side. Seferovic and Embolo found Gustav Svensson and Albin Ekdal keeping the center tight with Forsberg and Viktor Claesson on the wings each helped pull in to support the defensive back four and the experience at club level in United State, Russia and Germany shown through as it became more physically demanding.

Switzerland was never properly able to break down the defense of Sweden. The Swiss are not used to having a good defensive unit take them on and with so much packing in the star power, or lack thereof, was shown.

People will look back at this match in a different light when they see a goal scored and a red card for the chasing team but fact is that Sweden was able to fully adapt from a side taking advantage of the opportunities to one closing things down. The change was one that each of the seven quarter finalists would have found difficult to overcome. And yet that is not something that people like to contemplate when looking at a tournament.

While man of the match was given to the goal scorer credit lies with coach Janne Andersson. Before taking up the national team his club career is highlighted with a domestic title with one of the lesser sides in the country in IFK Norrkoping. His ability to guide that side to their first title in 25 years showed able to get the talent from a squad with less. It makes him perfect for Sweden and now they face an England side set for an upset, their favorite type of opponent.