Engand have had some battles with Sweden over the years

World Cup quarter-final: What have been the best Sweden v England games

Football

Wed July 05, 2018 · 8y ago

England have not enjoyed the best record against Sweden. We look at some of the more eventful meetings down the years.

England's victory on penalties over Colombia has secured them a World Cup quarter-final meeting with Sweden - but history shows this is anything but an easy clash.

The Three Lions' record against the Swedes in matches either at World Cups, European Championship finals or in qualifying campaigns shows just one win, two defeats and five draws.

England are 17/20 to beat Sweden in 90 minutes in their quarter-final, with the Swedes 19/5 outsiders, but as their record shows they should maybe

The first two of those games were 0-0 draws in qualifiers ahead of the 1990 World Cup,but the six that followed had a little more excitement to them.

Sweden 2 England 1 - European Championship finals group stage, June 17, 1992

1992 saw Sweden knock Graham Taylor's England out of the Euros

England crashed out of Euro 92 at the group stage after their final game in the pool saw the tournament hosts come from behind to defeat them. David Platt's early opener was cancelled out Jan Eriksson, and after England boss Graham Taylor then controversially took off Gary Lineker, Thomas Brolin fired in a fine winner late on. Famously, the match prompted the headline 'Swedes 2 Turnips 1' in one tabloid newspaper, which also produced an image of Taylor's face superimposed onto a turnip.

Sweden 2 England 1 - European Championship qualifier, September 5, 1998

Gareth Southgate has faced Sweden as a player

Glenn Hoddle's England made a poor start to their Euro 2000 qualifying campaign as they were beaten in Stockholm, again having taken the lead. Alan Shearer put the visitors in front in the first minute before Sweden hit back with goals in quick succession from Andreas Andersson and Johan Mjallby around the half-hour mark. England's misery then increased after the break as Paul Ince was sent off.

England 0 Sweden 0 - European Championship qualifier, June 5, 1999

Paul Scholes saw red as Sweden held England at Wembley

With Hoddle having been succeeded by Kevin Keegan, England endured more frustration against the Swedes as they were held to a goalless draw and reduced to 10 men once again. Paul Scholes' dismissal in the second half made him the first man to be red-carded while playing for England at Wembley.

England 1 Sweden 1 - World Cup finals group stage, June 2, 2002

It was another stalemate as England and Sweden met at the 2002 World Cup

England's 2002 World Cup group stage opener in Saitama, Japan saw Sven-Goran Eriksson's men go 1-0 up via a Sol Campbell header as he connected with David Beckham's free-kick in the first half. Sweden replied just before the hour mark, with Niclas Alexandersson's strike punishing a Danny Mills error.

England 2 Sweden 2 - World Cup finals group stage, June 20, 2006

England and Sweden played out a 2-2 draw at the 2006 World Cup

Following the early setback of Michael Owen coming off injured, Joe Cole put England ahead in their final 2006 World Cup group game in Cologne with a superb volley before Marcus Allback drew things level. Steven Gerrard then headed in what appeared a winner with five minutes of normal time remaining, only for Henrik Larsson to register a second equaliser for the Swedes at the death.

Sweden 2 England 3 - European Championship finals group stage, June 15, 2012

England came out on top in a five goal thriller at Euro 2012

England fought back from 2-1 down in Kiev as Danny Welbeck's back-heeled effort secured Roy Hodgson's team three points from their second Euro 2012 group match. Having grabbed the lead through Andy Carroll's header, England were behind after Olof Mellberg twice took advantage of slack defending, with a shot that went in off Glen Johnson and then a header of his own. The contest then turned around again as substitute Theo Walcott fired in before teeing up Welbeck.