SAMARA – Harry Maguire and Dele Alli scored as England comfortablydefeated Sweden 2-0 in Samara on Saturday to reach the World Cupsemi-finals for the first time since 1990.
Leicester defender Maguire headed in the opening goal from a corner on 30minutes, with Alli adding a second just before the hour.
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford then produced a series of crucial saves in thefinal half-hour to seal England’s long-awaited spot in the last four.
It was just a second England victory over Sweden in nine competitivemeetings, and sets up a clash with either hosts Russia or Croatia on July11 in Moscow for a place in the final.
Southgate stuck with the same team that overcame Colombia on penalties inthe last 16, while Sebastian Larsson returned for Sweden after missing the1-0 win over Switzerland through suspension.
Viktor Claesson drilled over for Sweden early on with an ambitious attemptfrom distance, while Harry Kane, the tournament’s leading scorer with sixgoals, dragged wide after a penetrating run by Raheem Sterling.
Sweden manager Janne Andersson had warned his side England were a match forthem at set-pieces, and so it proved when Maguire connected with AshleyYoung’s corner after a low-key first half hour.
Maguire outjumped the much smaller Emil Forsberg to nod low into thecorner, as England scored for the eighth time in Russia from a dead-ballsituation.
The lively Sterling should have doubled the lead on the stroke of half-timewhen he brilliantly controlled Jordan Henderson’s lofted pass, but he wasunable to find a way past Robin Olsen and his follow-up was blocked byAndreas Granqvist.
Pickford had relatively little to do in a quiet first half, but the Englandgoalkeeper produced a vital stop to claw away a Marcus Berg header minutesafter the restart.
England promptly cranked up the pressure and pulled further ahead on 59minutes when a completely unmarked Alli sent a thumping header past Olsenafter a first-time cross by Jesse Lingard.
Maguire then lashed over after a scene of panic in the Sweden area asEngland chased a third goal, although they were twice indebted to Pickfordfor preserving their two-goal lead.
The Everton shot-stopper thrust out a hand to superbly keep out Claesson’slow strike from 10 yards following a neat lay-off by Berg.
Pickford then showed terrific reflexes to tip over an effort from Berg, whoshot on the turn after being picked out in the area by substitute JohnGuidetti.
Southgate withdrew Henderson for Eric Dier in the closing stages and willhave a full squad to choose from in the semi-final, injuries permitting. -APP/AFP