Sweden vs Switzerland
They may be unheralded nations coming to the World Cup 2018, but now that they’re in the Round of 16, Sweden and Switzerland know that plenty of eyes will be on them as they fight for a spot in the last eight.
Both nations will be keen to prove they have what it takes to battle with the favourites. And while they don’t have the superstar names that will turn heads, they have impressed football fans in Russia with their ensemble cast that prioritises team play rather than individual effort.
Only one will make it to the next round, and the Swedes and Swiss will certainly throw all their cards in this match-up.
Expect another classic!
Talking Points
Before we discuss their match-up, let’s take a look first at the World Cup 2018 results that the two nations have produced so far.
Sweden are coming off a 3-0 win over Mexico that allowed them to win Group F. They beat South Korea in their opener but were dealt a huge blow when Germany scored a stoppage-time winner to snatch a victory.
However, they responded mightily and roared their way back to contention, thrashing El Tri behind goals from Ludwig Augustinsson and Andreas Granqvist. Furthermore, Edson Alvarez’ own goal was mere proof of how much pressure they put on the Mexicans.
If there’s one thing that the Swedes proved in the game, it’s that they are also capable offensively despite the general consensus that they are a defensive team—having kept three clean sheets in their previous four outings before the match.
On the other hand, Switzerland survived a strong group that featured the likes of Brazil, Serbia and Costa Rica.
La Nati went undefeated in the group stage, albeit with two draws and only one win. They survived their biggest test by pulling off a 1-1 stalemate against favourites Brazil and followed it up with a deserved victory over Serbia.
The Swiss side then confirmed their place in the knockout rounds with a 2-2 draw with Costa Rica, though the result of that game raised questions about their defensive efforts.
One positive takeaway from Switzerland’s performances, however, is that they have shown the mental strength and composure necessary in the World Cup. In two of their three games in the group phase, they trailed by one goal before staging a comeback.
If Switzerland are to win in this do-or-die affair, they will certainly need that trait.
Now, going to the Sweden-Switzerland match-up, most World Cup 2018 predictions have Vladimir Petkovic’s men as the slight favourites.
The Swiss have multiple offensive threats in Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka and boast superior experience, having made it to the last 16 in two of the past three World Cups.
Nonetheless, Swiss defensive duo Stephan Lichtsteiner and Fabian Schar are set to miss this last 16 fixture after accumulating two yellow cards each. With that said, Switzerland’s defence might be more vulnerable than it was in the Costa Rica game.
Sure enough, Sweden will take that opportunity and use it to their advantage. They are brimming with confidence right now; and while they will be without injured winger Sebastian Larsson, they know they still have Granqvist and RB Leipzig standout Emil Forsberg who can make a difference for them.
History
Sweden and Switzerland have met 28 times before, but the last time they fought each other was in 2002—a game which ended 1-1.
Although Switzerland have won two of their last five outings, their last victory came way back in 1994. Meanwhile, the Swedes won a friendly in 2001.
In terms of recent performance at the World Cup, Switzerland have the advantage. As mentioned in the Talking Points, the Swiss qualified in the last three versions of the tournament and actually made it past the group stage twice. The only time they failed to do so was in 2010 when they were drawn with Spain and Chile in Group H.
On the other hand, Sweden last made it to the competition in 2006, during which they reached the Round of 16 before falling to Germany.
What are the odds?
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Based on the latest SBOBET odds, Switzerland have the edge over Sweden with 1X2 @ 2.55. Janne Andersson’s side isn’t too far behind though, with 1X2 odds paying out 2.98 for a Swiss victory.
Moreover, a low-scoring affair might be on the books as Under 2.25 pays at 1.57, while Over 2.25 is at 2.49. That is further supported by the fact that a 1-1 Draw is the most probable result at 5.00—with a goalless draw at 5.40.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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