Switzerland and Sweden will play an unusual duel

Off the list of favorites at Russia 2018 but with strong teams that made their first part of the World Cup full of surprises, Sweden and Switzerland will face off against Saint PETERSBOURG. Final.

"We see that great nations do not win every time and that's an inspiration to us."

Without big favorites like Germany and Argentina, champion and finalist of the last World Cup, Selections like the Swedish and the Nati "They start thinking that this can be a cup of surprises and maybe the cup of their dreams.

The Swedes, without retired Zlatan Ibrahimovic, are trying to reach or overcome the semifinals of the 1994 World Cup. The coach Janne Andersson He has indicated that even though it is "fascinating" and inspiring to see that some football teams are no longer in the World Cup, "we are focusing on our matches."

Andersson said that they were "well prepared" for the elimination duel, but he did not want to give details of his training. "We will not make many changes," he conceded.

Sweden has done a detailed analysis of its opponents, he explained, including video analysis and Scouting information explaining the details to the Swedish rival. which makes them feel "very safe":

"But we can not be distracted, we are based on our game, I will not analyze something specific to the opponent, that is is a process and I am sure of it ". In front, the Swiss' Nati & # 39; – who closed his participation in the Brazilian group with a 2-2 draw against Costa Rica – recognizes the strength of his rival, but goes further.

"We have to do a good job defensively, and we have to dominate the game, be concrete because tomorrow (today) I think that there will not be many opportunities to score. We will face a rival who will not offer us many options and we must create interesting opportunities, "said the Swiss coach Vladimir Petkovic

He recalls that his team has already experienced" difficult matches "against Brazil (draw 1 -1 on the first day) or Serbia (win 2-1 with return)

The Swiss national team has grown less and less in most matches, and has started to lose against Brazil and Serbia.

he can count on his captain, right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus), and central defender Fabian Schär (Deportivo de La Coruña), both penalized, although Petkovic considers his 23 players as "prepared" and says "confident" they will replace them

SAINT-PETERSBOURG / Agencies