A deflected Emil Forsberg goal gave Sweden a 1-0 victory over Switzerland to set up a quarter final against the winners of the England-Colombia clash later tonight.
There were early chances for both sides, as Marcus Berg blasted wide a shot from close range, and Switzerland’s Steven Zuber curled a shot at goal that Robin Olsen was able to deal with easily.
Both teams came to the game with attacking intent, but the quality on both sides negated much of their ambition. While neither defence was ironclad, the game looked to be drawing to a low-scoring conclusion.
Given Xherdan Shaqiri was the only Swiss player to have scored in the knockout rounds of a major tournament since 1954, it was no surprise to see them struggle in attack.
Halfway through the half, Yann Sommer did well to beat away another Berg shot, arrowed at the low far corner, and blasted over the bar after a neat passing move from the Swiss.
In the second half, Ola Toivonen sent a volley well over the bar after Sweden took advantage of Switzerland’s failure to clear the ball from a deep cross to the back post.
Just before the hour mark Albin Ekdal fluffed a shot when he was teed up 20 yards from goal, barely a chance that warrants a mention because of the sheer paucity of action in the first stage of the second half.
Sweden grabbed the breakthrough when Emil Forsberg received a pass from the left, feinted past a defender before rocketing a shot past Sommer from the edge of the box. It was hit firmly by the RB Leipzig winger, and Sommer could only watch as it flew over his shoulder, a deflection off the unlucky defender Manuel Akanji leaving him totally wrong-footed.
