- We all could have done without the neutral jokes.
- Sweden hasn’t quite captured the imagination of neutrals but they have deserved these results.
- 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.
- Both Sweden and Switzerland meandered most of their other chances with skill lacking on both sides.
- Manuel Akanji joined Dortmund from Basel in January for €18 million.
- 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.
- Sweden defeated Italy in a World Cup playoff 1-0 on aggregate last November.
- 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.
- Sweden is off-brand artisanal and sincere Italy.
- Sweden last made the World Cup semifinals in 1994 and lost in the final to Brazil in 1958 on their home soil.
- Sweden nearly scored a second goal late on a penalty call that became a free kick following a VAR look.
- 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.
- A god has FOMO.
Christopher Reina is the Executive Editor of RealGM.
Follow @CR_Reina on Twitter.