• Janne Andersson, the Sweden manager, watches over his side in training on Friday. EPA
    Janne Andersson, the Sweden manager, watches over his side in training on Friday. EPA
  • Sweden's goalkeeper Karl-Johan Johnsson takes part to a training session in Samara, Russia, on Friday. AFP
    Sweden's goalkeeper Karl-Johan Johnsson takes part to a training session in Samara, Russia, on Friday. AFP
  • Gustav Svensson, centre, and his teammates. EPA
    Gustav Svensson, centre, and his teammates. EPA
  • Goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt. EPA
    Goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt. EPA
  • Defender Martin Olsson. AFP
    Defender Martin Olsson. AFP
  • Marcus Rohden, centre, and his teammates. EPA
    Marcus Rohden, centre, and his teammates. EPA
  • Defender Pontus Jansson. AFP
    Defender Pontus Jansson. AFP
  • Martin Olsson. EPA
    Martin Olsson. EPA
  • Defender Filip Helander. AFP
    Defender Filip Helander. AFP
  • Goalkeepers Karl-Johan Johnsson, left; Robin Olsen, third left; and goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt, right. AFP
    Goalkeepers Karl-Johan Johnsson, left; Robin Olsen, third left; and goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt, right. AFP
  • Viktor Claesson. EPA
    Viktor Claesson. EPA
  • Marcus Berg, left, and Andreas Granqvist. EPA
    Marcus Berg, left, and Andreas Granqvist. EPA
  • Sweden's John Guidetti, second left, with teammates. EPA
    Sweden's John Guidetti, second left, with teammates. EPA
  • Players of Sweden national team. EPA
    Players of Sweden national team. EPA

Sweden captain Andreas Granqvist happy to miss birth of daughter if it means World Cup glory over England


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Sweden captain Andreas Granqvist is happy to delay meeting his newborn daughter if it means extending his World Cup dream at England's expense.

Granqvist's wife Sophie gave birth to the couple's second daughter, Mika, overnight on Friday while the veteran defender continued preparations for his side's quarter-final in Samara.

England midfielder Fabian Delph missed the last-16 victory against Colombia to be there for the arrival of his third child but Granqvist was under instruction from Sophie not to leave his teammates.

"It was good timing. I didn't sleep very much last night, so I'm glad that it's happened now," the 33-year-old told a pre-match press conference.

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Read more

World Cup 2018: Day 23 updates

Familiar foes Sweden set to be England and Southgate's biggest World Cup test yet 

Marcus Berg interview: Sweden striker living in a 'bubble' as teamwork continues to drive World Cup dream

World Cup 2018 second round guide and predictions: England to prevail against Sweden

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"My wife did a wonderful job back home. Everything went well. Both baby, my daughter, and wife are doing really well."

"It's quite simple, getting a daughter is the most beautiful thing you can get."

A place in the last four also figures high on the Swede's hit list, with the Helsingborgs centre-half admitting: "It's a dream for every football player to play a quarter-final in the World Cup. I'm raring to go."

Granqvist and Manchester United's Victor Lindelof will become the latest pair to try their hand at shackling tournament top-scorer Harry Kane on Saturday.

Kane has netted six times in three games so far, including three from the penalty spot, and will be hungry for more at Samara Arena.

"We have been very strong on set-pieces but this is one of England's strengths as well and they have Harry Kane, who is really dangerous in the penalty box," said the Swede.

"We need to be very strong in the box and make sure they don't get the service they need. He is incredibly skilled, not just on penalties, but as a striker - he is good at everything.

"It's going to be a very tough match against him but we're going to do everything to stop him."

Sweden expect to have Albin Ekdal and Jimmy Durmaz available after injury, with former Birmingham, Sunderland and Hull midfielder Seb Larsson back from suspension.

Celtic's Mikael Lustig will be missing after collecting two yellow cards.

Manager Janne Andersson was steeped in English football from a young age but sees a new style in Gareth Southgate's squad.

"I grew up in the 70s and we used to follow English football. It was only one televised match a week in those days," he said.

"I was always a huge fan of English football, I can remember watching Kenny Hibbitt's Wolves and the muddy pitches.

"I grew up with this and England was my second nation. It's a wonderful feeling to face them as head coach of the Swedish team.

"But football has developed a great deal. What they still have is the heart and the spirit of fighting. I have always appreciated that but it's not the England I grew up watching."