If England think they have landed in the easier half of the World Cup draw with the best possible quarter-final opponents in Sweden then they should think again, according to Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka.
The midfielder and his Switzerland team-mates are Sweden’s latest scalp, losing 1-0 here on Tuesday as Janne Andersson’s side booked a meeting with England in Samara this weekend.
Sweden’s dour, defensive approach and direct, counter-attacking style drew sneers from Swiss winger Xherdan Shaqiri but Xhaka appreciates how tough an opponent they are and has dismissed suggestions England have a simple route to the final, with Russia or Croatia awaiting Saturday’s winner.
“Everything about Sweden is difficult,” Xhaka said after Emil Forsberg had scored the only goal at the St Petersburg Stadium. “They have a good approach. They play very, very simple. They’re defensively very good and they score.
“For other people, it is easier, the half [of the draw]. I do not agree. If you beat Italy [in the qualifying play-off], if you [progress instead of] Germany, you are a good team. I do not agree this half is easier than the other half.”
Sweden finished ahead of the Netherlands in their qualifying group, while beating France, and goalkeeper Robin Olsen says they fear no-one.
“England have great players and we have respect for all the teams but we’re not afraid — that’s important to say,” he said. “In the qualification games against France, the Netherlands, Italy, we showed teams respect but we’re not afraid.”
There have been suggestions that the Swedes are dream quarter-final opponents but Sweden captain Andreas Granqvist said: “I read about that — something about 99 times out of 100 they would beat us. It’s fun for England to have that confidence. We know Sweden usually play well against England. We have had good results against them, so to me it doesn’t really matter.”
Right-back Mikael Lustig, who is suspended for the quarter-final, added: “Last eight in the world — it’s a massive thing for us.
“We’re not saying sorry to anyone because I think we earned it. The way we are playing is amazing. We are defending with our lives and we create a lot of chances as well, so it’s brilliant.
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“We’ve proved time after time, even when we play the big nations, we find a way to win the game. This World Cup has been crazy so far so hopefully it will continue like that.
“I think everyone knows the way we want to play our football. It suits us to let the other team have the ball possession. Switzerland had a lot of possession but we had 100 per cent of the chances. It’s just our way to play football.”
