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SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) – An increasingly confident Sweden are relishing the prospect of a World Cup quarter-final clash against England after the best of their battling qualities in a 1-0 win over Switzerland in Tuesday's Round of 16 tie .
English football is hugely popular in the Scandinavian country but the well-drilled Swedes will not be overawed when they face a team packed with Premier League stars who beat Colombia on penalties after a 1-1 draw on Tuesday.
"Bring them on. We are looking forward to seeing you again, "striker Marcus Berg told reporters as he looked ahead to the last-eight encounter in Samara on Saturday.
Winger Emil Forsberg, whose deflected goal earned Sweden's first World Cup quarter-final berth since 1994, says the side will continue to make it tough for whoever they meet.
"We have had nightmare opponents where we went, and no matter who we get to work hard to win. We believe in what we're doing and we can do something great, "he told reporters.
The Swedes have traditionally been a tough opponent for the English, who went to Scandinavians from 1968 to 2011, with England manager Gareth Southgate saying they had underestimated them in the past.
After suffocating the Swiss with their compact, defensive style, the Swedes are unlikely to change the tactics that they have in the tournament, and the fact that England will be favorites will not bother them.
"I do not think their players want to meet us. We have shown that we are a team that we do not want to meet, a team that allows a few chances, "Midfielder Gustav Svensson said after Sweden's third clean sheet in four games.
"If you ask their players, I do not think any of them will want to meet us."
Reporting by Philip O'Connor; Editing by John O'Brien
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