Sweden have put themselves in wonderful position to get through this group F after they defeated South Korean in their opening group game. Andreas Granqvist scored the only goal of the game which came in second half from the penalty spot and with the win Sweden now have 3 points and need just one more win to make it through to the next round.
Match Highlights:
Sweden are set to open their world cup 2018 campaign with the opening game against South Korea on Monday afternoon, 18th June 2018 at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Nizhny Novgorod city. With Mexico getting the better of Germany in the opening group F game it gives this group an interesting twist. Sweden and Korea must win this game to stand a chance for qualification. However, neither team is in particularly good form heading into the world cup and with games against Mexico and Germany remaining they face an uphill task of qualifying from this group.
Match Preview & Team News: Sweden have been in poor form since beating Italy in the Playoffs and they failed to score in any of the 3 warmup games they played before the world cup and to top that off they did not register a single goal in 3 friendlies before heading to Russia. However, Sweden are unbeaten in their last 9 group games in previous world cups but again another state Sweden fans won’t like is the fact Sweden have only kept 3 clean sheets in their last 24 world cup matches.
South Korea on the other hand are no longer they team they were in previous decade or so. They do qualify for world cup with rather ease but as soon as they world cup begins they struggle. They have only won 1 of their last 9 world cup games but playing against a very fragile Swedish side and with Heung-Min Son fit they might have a chance here on monday afternoon.
Possible Starting Lineups: This is how I expect both teams to lineup on Monday.
Match Predictions: Now this one is hard to predict even more so considering the results in the world cup so far. This event is shapping up a very competitive one an there hardly been a game which was one side (except Russia-Saudi). Sweden are a better side on paper and although did not have much of joy in friendlies leading up to the world cup they might turn on in the tournament itself. South Korea are struggling and they rely heavily on Spurs striker Son, so if Sweden can keep him quite they have a good chance. I am going with a 2-1 win for Sweden in this one.
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Sweden vs South Korea: Live Updates, Score and Reaction from World Cup Game
Sweden (National Football) vs South Korea (National Football)
Nizhny Novgorod
Sweden and South Korea kick off their 2018 FIFA World Cup campaigns on Monday at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium. The match hands both nations a real shot at making a splash in the tournament, as their Group F was blown wide open by Mexico’s shock win over Germany on Sunday. A win for either side would put them in with a real shot at qualification, with Joachim Low’s Germany now playing catch-up. Sweden no longer have Zlatan Ibrahimovic in their ranks, but they are a solid unit and it will be an excellent test for South Korea.
Lee Yong from the right flank charges in but ends up fouling Forsberg. Yong's frustration is a reflection of the entire S. Korean team at the moment.A quiet passage of play as South Korea try to make something out of the remaining few minutes. Nervy moments for both the teams. Korea have the possession but Sweden are sitting deep and not allowing any loopholes.Freekick for South Korea outside the Swede box. Can they make something out of this? No they cannot. Isaac Kiese Thelin jumps forward and blocks the delivery.Chance for Korea after a clever header from Hwang Hee-Chan inside the Sweden box but the recipient failed to intercept after losing his footing.We are into the last 15 minutes of the game now (plus the injury time).Kim with yet another desperate piece of defending to deny Sweden. South Korea bean the half positively but it's Sweden who have the goal and the control over the proceedings. Credit to the Korean defenders including the goalie for having defended as if their lives was dependent on it.Hwang breaks free and surges ahead inside the Sweden box from the right but Jansson gets his foot in between to send that for a corner kick.The South Korean goalie has been excellent today. Sweden could have easily been 2-0 up by now if not for him making superb saves. A free-kick from Sweden and Berg directs his header towards the target but Cho is equally alert and then he receives some help from his defender who clears it away.A terrible challenge from the Korean no. 11 on Augustinsson.Koo is in prime position to make a header count when he receives a brilliant cross in front of the Sweden goalpost but his header crashes on the side net.A busy period of play. Sweden march forward and inside the Korean half but they have been sitting deep and quickly gain the possession. They hit back on the counter but it amounts to nothing.A cross from the right finds Larsson whose header is just wide of the right post.Another chance goes a begging! Berg with the brilliant pass from the left as he outfoxes the goalie. His lofted pass falls in front of an empty cage but there's no yellow shirt present to put that in.Son goes down inside the Swede box following a challenge from Augustinsson and looks for a penalty. Referee isn't interested. Korean manager, expectedly, disagrees.Larsson supplies the ball inside the box but Korean defense is up for it. Ball intercepted. Stil goalless after 40 minutes.Koreans again break free but Swedes are unhappy. They are protesting foul on Forsberg, Referee ignores.Son Heung-Min catches Sweden on the backfoot and sprints forward from the right wing. After entering the box, he searches for some support but Granqvist blocks the move and nullifies the threat.19 FOULS have been committed by the two teams so far.Corner for Sweden. The ball lands in front of Berg who, again, looks int prime position to slot that it but Kim Young-Gwon has to make another intervention to thwart the danger.After being frustrated for the past few minutes, Koreans try to regain the momentum keeping the possession. However, Park Joo-Ho tries to head a long pass and it's an awkward ball. He is down on all fours after falling awkardly. Doesn't look good for him.Ekdal with a chip but it's intercepted by Korean defender. One-way traffic - Sweden bossing it. Still 0-0 thoughCho Hyun-Woo is caught in a one-on-one situation with Berg whose shot is magnificently blocked by the goalie - twice. He first blocked his shot with his feet and then punched it away for a corner. Berg must be gutted. First real chance of the half.Sweden are growing into the game now. Seems like the nerves have been settled. Koreans are being pushed deep. Granqvist receives a brilliant through ball and looks set to make it count in front of the goalpost when Kim Young-gwon makes an excellent intervention to deny himFirst threatening move from the Swedes. Claesson from the right with a good ball and Berg's shot is kicked away by the Lee YongA promising move from the Koreans - Park Joo-Ho makes the cross but it's way off. No damage done.So far, it's the South Korean team which has been at the forefront. Sweden look ordinary - not much possession either for them,A freekick from a decent spot for South Korea. Son, the Korean talisman, isn't upto the mark. Not a free-kick he would be proud of but Shin-Wook does well to jump ahead but can only direct far wide of the near post. Koreans are beginning to take control.First corner of the contest goes Korean's ways. No damage done thoughKi Sung-yueng wins a freekick. All and all a slow start from the two sides.Foul from Lee Yong of S KoreaThese two sides are meeting for the first timeA bright, sunny day greets the two teams and the fans in Nizhny NovgorodJo Hyeon-woo, Yong Lee, Park Joo-ho, Kim Young-gwon, Jang Hyun-soo, Koo Ja-cheol, Ki Sung-yueng (capt), Lee Jae-sung, Son Heung-min, Kim Shin-wook, Hwang Hee-chanShin Tae-yong (KOR)Robin Olsen, Mikael Lustig, Andreas Granqvist (capt), Ludwig Augustinsson, Pontus Jansson, Sebastian Larsson, Albin Ekdal, Emil Forsberg, Viktor Claesson, Marcus Berg, Ola ToivonenJanne Andersson (SWE)Joel Aguilar (SLV)
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