FIFA World Cup 2018: Sweden vs South Korea – All Updates

by Chittu Shetty June 18, 2018

VAR plays crucial role in Swedish win as captain Andreas Granqvist scored the only goal of the match from a penalty spot after referee consulted on-field video review before giving the decision.

It was a comprehensive defeat for Korea Republic, who were terrible in their game plan while Sweden’s experimental approach in terms of tactics will have left a lot of pondering questions to be answered.

Sweden started world cup campaign with a 1-0 win over South Korea. The Sweden captain Andreas Granqvist scored from the Penalty spot after referee Joel Aguilar turned to the video assistant referee before awarding the penalty after South Korean substitute Kim Min-woo was adjudged to have fouled Viktor Claesson inside the box.

While the scoreline suggest a close game it was Sweden that completely controlled the game and shown most of the attacking intent however they couldn’t find a way past an inspired South Korea backup goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo who made numerous saves to keep the scoreline respectable.

With this wins, Sweden now joins Mexico at the head of the table, while South Korea and Germany are both without a point . Sweden next face defending champions Germany in what could be tournament deciding fixture for the latter side. (A loss will almost send them out of the competition crashing)

Highlights

Interesting facts of the game:

1-0 – Sweden’s last victory at a World Cup also ended with a 1-0 win, against Paraguay in 2006. Fredrik Ljungberg scored the goal on a flying header.

11 –  Sebastian Larsson played his 101th International game for his side making him Sweden’s 11th most capped player in history.

62 Years – Sweden’s first World cup opening game win after 62 years, the last time it happened was in 1958 when they hosted the World Cup. (Sweden 3 – 0 Mexico)

Man of the Match: Andreas Granqvist

Head to Head:(after today’s game)

Matches – 5, South Korea – 0, Sweden – 3, Draws – 2

The Preview:

With defending champions Germany looming large in Group F, Sweden and Korea Republic are well aware that their opening match at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ could well decide their future in the competition.

The game is Sweden’s first in the world finals in 12 years, and while they make their return without their talisman of the last decade, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, they are a solid, well-knit unit that qualified for Russia 2018 at the expense of Italy no less.

As for the South Koreans, who are embarking on their tenth World Cup campaign, they have a very clear objective: to improve on their performance in Brazil four years ago, when they collected a solitary point in the group stage and went home early.

The Stats and Numbers:

1 – This will be the first time the two sides will meet in FIFA World Cup history.

12-0 – The first and the only big stage that the two sides have met was in 1948 London Olympics, where Sweden thrashed Koreans 12-0

0 – South Korea has never managed to beat Sweden in history of football (2 losses, 2 draws)

June 18 –

1. On this very day, 12 years ago South Korea held France to 1-1 draw in 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany
2. On this very day, 16 years ago in another FIFA World Cup in front of home fans, South Koreans shocked the football world by knocking out Italy from the tournament.

101 – Playing in his first World Cup, Sebastian Larsson – Sweden’s current most capped player, will be playing his 101th game for his national team.

The Quotes:

Korea Republic Captain Ki Sungyueng – “In terms of experience on big stages, Korean players have the edge over Swedish players. I’m not sure how many players in Sweden have taken part in the World Cup, but we have many.”

Janne Andersson – “There are many different ways to score and many different ways you can do it in our way of playing. We have worked a little bit more on our attack now in the last few days and I hope that tomorrow it will work and we will score”

Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2018: Germany vs Mexico – Preview, Stats, Quotes

Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2018: Germany vs Mexico – Review, Stats, Highlights & Quotes

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