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By Paul Giblin MOSCOW Russia (Xinhua)
-- Swedish international midfielder
Sebastian Larsson is expected to be back in their starting 11
when they face England in the Samara Arena on Saturday afternoon
after missing their 1-0 win over Switzerland in the last round
due to suspension.
Although he has just
accepted a move that will end his career back in his homeland to
play with AIK, the 33-year-old, who has played for his country
on 103 occasions, has spent most of his playing career in
England with spells at Arsenal, Birmingham City and Sunderland
and spent last season with Hull City in the English Championship
(second division) and admits Saturday will be a “special
occasion” for him.
The Swedes have only
lost to Germany in this World Cup and have a good record against
England in competitive matches.
“It’s a game I’m
really looking forward to, it’s the quarterfinals of the World
Cup and for me personally to be going up against England, the
country where I spent 17 years, it’s obviously a little bit
special,” Larsson said in a press conference on Thursday.
England are
favorites to beat the Swedes, but Larsson said he and his
companions would not be focussing on the England players, but on
maintaining the level of competition they have produced in the
World Cup so far.
“We’ve got huge
respect for England, they’ve got quality players all over the
pitch, they’re a good team, but for us, as we have been doing
for most of this tournament, we’re trying to focus mostly on
ourselves,” he said. |
