World Cup 2018: Sweden vs Switzerland prediction, team news and preview ahead of last 16 showdown

SWEDEN came into the World Cup ranked as outsiders to reach the knockout stages in a group that contained Germany and Mexico.

Yet they finished top, despite defeat to reigning champions, giving their best chance of reaching their first quarter-finals this century.

Meanwhile, Switzerland defended valiantly to hold Brazil to a draw in their opening match before a late Xherdan Shaqiri goal gave them the win against Serbia and the advantage going into the final game.

Despite exchanging goals late on, Switzerland did enough to share the spoils with Costa Rica and ensure they reached the last 16.

The nation expects: Before the tournament began, both nations would have been satisfied to reach this stage, but it represents the best chance for either to make the quarter-finals.

Switzerland have not finished in the top eight since 1954, while Sweden came third in 1994 but failed to qualify for the last two World Cups. Knowing they have already reached their expectations, these sides will have no pressure on their shoulders and can enjoy the occasion at the Krestovsky Stadium.

Key battles/Star men: Robin Olsen in the Sweden goal has been outstanding so far and was not at fault for twice conceding against Germany, but the Scandinavians know their main attacking threat is from set pieces.

Switzerland are a very different outfit, preferring skill and passing to the Swedes’ power. Shaqiri has lit up the tournament so far for the Swiss, popping up with key goals including the late winner over Serbia.

Weakest links: Playing against teams who will have the majority of possession will be Sweden’s downfall as they showed in the Germany defeat that they crack under pressure if they are made to sit back defend.

Against Costa Rica, Switzerland were luck to escape with a point, as the Central Americans had a host of early chances all because their opponents were not getting close enough. Only Yann Sommer kept them in the game and prevented defeat.

Managers

Swedish manager Janne Andersson is ranking all 23 of his players in preparations for a possible shoot-out and insists everyone will know what order they will step up to the spot.

Like Swiss boss Vladimir Petkovic, he warns of the danger of underestimating the so-called smaller nations at this World Cup.

Petkovic, whose team have gone out in the last 16 of their previous three major tournaments, says: “There are no weak teams at this stage of the competition and anyone who underestimates us could be in trouble.”

Star man

Switzerland will be relying on Xherdan Shaqiri to bring an extra touch of imagination to an otherwise functional team.

The Stoke forward has an eye for the spectacular and loves to perform on the big stage.

Oila Toivionen has been handed the thankless task of replacing Zlatan Ibrahimovic up front for the Swedes.

The Toulouse target man might work harder than his predecessor but is not a patch on his country’s greatest ever footballer in terms of quality.

Team news

Switzerland are without skipper Stephan Lichsteiner and centre-half Fabian Schauer, who are both suspended after picking up two yellow cards in the group games.

Michael Lang and Johan Djorou are their likely defensive replacements.

Likely line-up (4-2-3-1): Sommer; Lang, Djourou, Akanji, Rodriguez; Behrami, Xhaka; Shaqiri, Dzemaili, Zuber; Drmic

Sweden will also be without the suspended Seb Larsson tonight.

Gustav Svensson is set to replace the former Sunderland and Hull star in midfield.

Likely line up (4-4-2): Olsen; Lustig, Lindelof, Granqvist, Augustinsson; Claesson, Svensson, Ekdal, Forsberg; Berg, Toivonen

Shaq atack: Following his World Cup exploits, Liverpool are prepared to push hard for £12 million-rated Shaqiri. The Swiss forward wants a move away from Stoke City after they suffered relegation last season.

Sweden were ranked 24th in the world before the tournament kicked off, below Costa Rica, Tunisia and Peru.

But they have proved doubters wrong by playing to their strengths, notably using their tall, powerful forwards to boss the penalty box.

And while it was always going to be a tough ask to top a group that featured pre-tournament favourites Brazil, Switzerland should have beaten Costa Rica and must now show their class to reach the next round.

Best bet: The 3-0 victory over Mexico by Sweden was a shock to many, but if they can prove that it was no fluke, then are offering 28/1 for the Swedes to beat Switzerland by the same scoreline.

Opta Stats:

• This will be the 29th meeting between Sweden and Switzerland but the first ever at a major tournament (World Cup + Euro).
• Sweden are unbeaten in their last three games against Switzerland (W1 D2) although their last encounter was in March 2002 (1-1). The Swiss’ last victory came in October 1994 in a Euro qualifier in Bern (4-2), it was under Roy Hodgson.

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• Since finishing as runners-up on home soil in 1958, Sweden have progressed past the second round of the World Cup on only one occasion, it was in 1994 when they finished third.
• Sweden have never won back to back World Cup matches outside of their own country – they did so twice in 1958 as host nation but haven’t accomplished it in any of their other 11 tournaments including this one.
• This will be Sweden’s 50th game at the World Cup, becoming the 11th team to reach that tally. Only Mexico have featured in more games without ever winning the tournament.
• Switzerland last made it to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in 1954 when the tournament was held on home soil. Since then, they have always been knocked out whenever they’ve reached the round of 16 (1994, 2006, 2014), not scoring a single goal in any of those three games.
• Switzerland have lost only one of their last 25 games (W17 D7), that came against Portugal in October 2017 (0-2).

• 11 of Switzerland’s last 14 goals at the World Cup have been scored in the second-half, including four out of five at this year’s tournament.
• Between them, Emil Forsberg and Marcus Berg have had 21 of Sweden’s 37 shots at the 2018 World Cup (57%) without scoring any of them.
• Stephan Lichtsteiner will be suspended for this round of 16 game against Sweden. Up until now, the Swiss captain had only missed 25 minutes out of the 1590 played by his team at major tournaments since Euro 2008.
• Since Switzerland reached the quarter-finals at World Cup 1954, Xherdan Shaqiri is the only Swiss player to have scored in the knockout stages of a major tournament. It was at Euro 2016 against Poland.