1. We all could have done without the neutral jokes.
  2. Sweden hasn’t quite captured the imagination of neutrals but they have deserved these results.
  3. An own goal in the 66th minute, albeit off a really nice hesitation move and strike from Emil Forsberg, ended up being the lone goal.
  4. Both Sweden and Switzerland meandered most of their other chances with skill lacking on both sides.
  5. Manuel Akanji joined Dortmund from Basel in January for €18 million.
  6. Akanji was responsible for the unlucky own goal deflection, but the way Forsberg made Granit Xhaka freeze was the more egregious error on Switzerland’s part.
  7. Sweden defeated Italy in a World Cup playoff 1-0 on aggregate last November.
  8. This has been the type of tournament that a stereotypical Italy side would thrive in with so many teams in transitional phases. We very well get a random winner and Sweden has become the Italy of this World Cup with their organization and collective play.
  9. Sweden is off-brand artisanal and sincere Italy.
  10. Sweden last made the World Cup semifinals in 1994 and lost in the final to Brazil in 1958 on their home soil.
  11. Sweden nearly scored a second goal late on a penalty call that became a free kick following a VAR look.
  12. This match could have really used a fluky assist from the referee for Switzerland in stoppage time to setup 30 minutes of extra time and penalties that no neutral really wanted.
  13. A god has FOMO.