World Cup 2018: Sweden to face Switzerland today

FT ONLINE

What is it?

Group F winners Sweden are up against Group E runners-up Switzerland in the round of 16.

When is it?

3 July

What time is kick-off?

3pm, BST. Bangladesh Time 8 pm

What TV channel is it on?

You can catch this one on BBC One and BBC One HD

Where is the game being played?

At the Saint Petersburg Stadium, also known as the Krestovsky Stadium

What will be decided?

Who will go on to face England or Colombia in the World Cup quarter-finals.

What is the team news?

Gustav Svensson is like to replace Hull midfield Sebastian Larsson who is suspended after picking up two yellows in the group stage, but Sweden are expected to name an otherwise unchanged side from the one that beat Mexico last week.

Switzerland are without Fabian Schar and captain Stephan Lichtsteiner, who are both serving suspensions after picking up two yellows apiece, and they are likely to be replaced by Johan Djourou and Michael Land respectively.

What's the latest news on the two teams?

Both sides are in unfamiliar territory as they set their eyes firmly on the quarter-finals. For Sweden, it's been 24 years since they finished third at the 1994 World Cup, having failed to progress beyond the round of 16 since. The last time Switzerland reached a quarter-final was in 1954, when they were knocked out by Austria in a thriller that ended 7-5.

Sweden were surprise winners of their group after a 3-0 win against Mexico, while they were unlucky to lose to Germany as Toni Kroos hit a 95th minute winner.

Switzerland were also impressive in the group stages and secured an impressive draw against World Cup favourites Brazil.

These two are neck and neck, and as the odds suggest, it's hard to find any way to separate the two.

What are the odds?

Sweden: 21/10

Switzerland: 17/10

Draw: 19/10

What's our prediction?

A risk-averse 90 minutes, cagey extra time, and for it to all come down to penalties.

Sweden 0 Switzerland 0