RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner is on Lewandowski's tail in both the race to be atop the German top-flight scoring charts and in following suit by becoming a striker at the peak of his powers.

Alexander Nubel could spark a battle among some of Europe's top clubs for his signature after quickly establishing himself as one of the Bundesliga's top goalkeepers.

Thomas Muller has responded to Joachim Low by revealing he remains angry after the Germany coach said it's unlikely the Bayern Munich star would earn a recall. 

Manuel Neuer's long-term future at the Allianz Arena has been thrown into doubt with rising star Alexander Nubel having already agreed a deal to join the club on a five-year deal come this summer.

Lyon president Jean Michel Aulas has confirmed that the Ligue 1 club plans to launch two legal fights after the season was ended early.

The Brighton CEO has been vocal in his opposition to the 'unfair' proposals of Project Restart, which would see remaining games played at a small number of independent grounds.

Striker Isaac Kiese-Thelin spooned a late shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy as his Sweden side were held to a goalless draw by Denmark in their pre-World Cup friendly at the Friends Arena.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is still not satisfied with his omission from the Swedish national team for Russia and believes the national media cost him a spot in the 23-man squad for the World Cup.

Sweden were given a pleasant surprise during their training session on Wednesday morning when their national anthem was sung over the tannoy system by one of the World Cup volunteers.

Emil Forsberg believes Sweden would undoubtedly have a better chance at success this World Cup had Zlatan Ibrahimovic been in the squad, despite getting off to a winning start.

FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against two German team officials who stormed towards the Sweden bench gesticulating and clapping after a last-gasp victory on Saturday.

Thunder rumbled as the players boarded the team buses but it would take more than another mighty storm crashing ashore from the Black Sea to clear the air.

Sweden weren't the only country to curse Germany's late winner. It was also a major setback for Mexico who have consequently been left with work to do to qualify for the knockout stages.

They may no longer be able to count Zlatan Ibrahimovic among their ranks, but the enigmatic striker's retirement has certainly not hindered Sweden at the current World Cup.

IAN LADYMAN AT SAINT PETERSBURG STADIUM: With two minutes of this game remaining and with Sweden in the lead, their forward Ola Toivonen tried to play the ball against an opponent for a corner. 

Gareth Southgate's side progressed to the last eight of the competition following a dramatic win over Colombia on penalties on Tuesday night. The victory set up a clash against Sweden.

Swedish football fans - one of whom is an MP - said their team will defeat England in the World Cup on Saturday as they referenced a massacre in 793.

In the interview area beneath the St Petersburg Stadium, Swedish star Viktor Claesson was asked the question, the Zlatan question. If you are Swedish, the question always arrives eventually.

The whole world can see Harry Kane is top of the goalscoring charts at Russia 2018, but it's not the only important statistic in which he is leaving his international striker rivals trailing in his dust.

Sweden have taken off for Samara ahead of their World Cup quarter final — a full day ahead of their opponents England. Gareth Southgate's squad will fly in from Saint Petersburg on Friday.

There are plenty of big guns left in the World Cup, plus a few surprises. Bearing in mind the current odds, here's who Sportsmail's team of football reporters would bet on to win, and why.

Certain airlines including Emirates, Etihad, American Airlines and Qatar Airways will be broadcasting England's World Cup quarter final live on Saturday afternoon.

England will have learned plenty from their penalty shootout win over Colombia and are aware of the barrier Sweden represent. Sportsmail looks at how the quarter-final might be won and lost

Ahead of Saturday's World Cup quarter-final in Samara, Sportsmail's MARTIN KEOWN takes a look at the likely Sweden XI who will be out to stop Gareth Southgate's Three Lions.

SAMI MOKBEL IN SAMARA: Southgate, who has considered giving his midfield a defensive feel against Swedenn by starting with Dier in place of Alli, has nurtured a feeling of togetherness.

Gareth Southgate's England side take on Sweden in Samara on Saturday afternoon with a place in the semi-finals at stake and the excitement levels are at boiling point.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic appears to be ready to hold up his end of the bargain he has with David Beckham after his beloved Sweden were knocked out of the World Cup by England on Saturday.

Turkey substitute Emre Akbaba got two late goals to snatch a stunning 3-2 win over Sweden in the Nations League as the visitors recovered from two goals down at the Friends Arena on Monday.

Sergio Reguilon, Pau Torres and Gerard Moreno were handed call-ups on Friday after being named in coach Robert Moreno's squad for Euro 2020 qualifiers against Norway and Sweden.

Alexander Isak has been compared to Zlatan Ibrahimovic since racing on the scene at 16. He turned down Real Madrid as a youngster and is now showing his true potential with Real Sociedad.

Pep Guardiola has maintained he cannot be held responsible if £49million defender John Stones misses out on Euro 2020 due to a lack of game time at Manchester City.

Sydney-born Konta, 28, moved to Eastbourne in East Sussex with her Hungarian parents when she was 14-years-old.

The athlete, 28, has revealed that her family members and close friends have failed to recognise her when she is out of her tennis whites.

RIATH AL-SAMARRAI AT WIMBLEDON: Konta battled back from a set down to sink Stephens and reach the last 16 at Wimbledon. The British No 1 appeared to be heading to defeat but fought back.

British Number One Johanna Konta has beaten Czech player Petra Kvitova to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals.

Most of us appreciate the value of a good night's sleep, but how much would you pay to wake up feeling refreshed and restored each day?

MIKE DICKSON IN NEW YORK: This time there were no recriminations or spats with the media, just the numbing disappointment of another missed opportunity.

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon delivered a withering assessment of the would-be PM, saying he would 'damage the UK's reputation'.

On his first visit to Scotland, Mr Johnson told the SNP leader the UK would leave the EU on Halloween. He was booed by protesters in Edinburgh.

Sir Malcolm Rifkind delivered the stark message after allies of the PM made clear he will try to cling on if he is defeated on a confidence motion by rebel Tories determined to head off No Deal Brexit.

Jeremy Corbyn met Ian Blackford, the Scottish nationalists' Westminster leader, yesterday to agree an election should only be held after Britain has secured another Brexit delay from the EU.

RICHARD LITTLEJOHN: Just imagine the reaction if a bunch of pro-Brexit English MPs had got onto their hind legs in the Commons and started singing Land Of Hope And Glory.

The SNP Westminster leader backs Mr Corbyn's (pictured) claim to be the best person to form a government if a no confidence vote against Boris Johnson succeeds.

The Labour leader was effectively given no choice but to cave in and back the PM's bill for a snap poll after it became clear it had Liberal Democrat and SNP support.

The first minister of Scotland said that her party's message would be 'clear, simple and unambiguous - vote SNP to demand independence and secure Scotland's right to choose'.

Jeremy Corbyn is ready to 'throw the UK under a bus' by forming a coalition with the SNP that would break up Britain, Michael Gove has warned. He said that Labour and the SNP were now 'in bed together'.

Jeremy Corbyn caused confusion on a visit to Glasgow by declaring that there would be no ballot on splitting the UK before the next election.

Nicola Sturgeon tonight claimed Jeremy Corbyn would be willing to sacrifice the Union of the United Kingdom if that was the price of taking power after the election.

Teenage psychopath Aaron Campbell, who raped and murdered six-year-old Alesha MacPhail on the Isle of Bute, was subject to the SNP's Named Person scheme, a secret report reveals.

The Labour leadership challenger made the comment at a hustings event last week and provoked fury from the party as she labelled its members 'Tories wrapped up in nationalist clothing'.