Sweden 0 England 2

The European Championships - sorry - World Cup continues with all those pesky South Americans sent packing. You could kind of understand that back in the days when most players from that continent played there, but with such a globalised game now it seems strange that the location of the tournament still has such an influence.

Growing confidence in the England camp with all the big guns gone - barring this blog’s tip from the start, France - with one radio pundit even claiming that none of the Swedish players would get a game for England. Mmm, think Kyle Walker’s place might be under threat for a start. English pride so often comes before a fall though. The Colombia penalty shootout shown three times in the opening nineteen minutes of the buildup (which started thirty minutes earlier than billed). Then again twenty minutes later. 

The first half hour was probably the worst of the tournament so far, neither team able to play any football. But then, inevitably, a set piece led to a goal with Maguire heading in Young’s corner. Sterling missed a sequence of good chances and - well, that was it. Second half had to be better, didn’t it?

Not really. Pickford made a couple of decent saves from all that the limited Swedish attack could muster, and Dele Alli was left unmarked to head in a second.

And so a very poor Swedish side out and England into the semis. But another absolutely dreadful game for the neutral.