Gareth Southgate's buoyant team face Sweden on Saturday, knowing a win will put them into the semi-final for the first time in 28 years, where they will either face Croatia or hosts Russia.

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.

The hours are ticking down to England's World Cup quarter-final against Sweden and the fans are in Samara soaking up the atmosphere ahead of their biggest game in a generation.

In the Samara Arena, situated on the banks of the River Volga in a far-flung corner of the sprawling Russian Motherland, an England team made history.

SAMI MOKBEL AT THE SAMARA ARENA: Goals by Harry Maguire and Dele Alli capped off a relatively comfortable afternoon for England and they now await either Croatia or host Russia in the last four.

PETE JENSON: Martin Odegaard used to train with Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo through the week and then play with the B-team Real Madrid Castilla at the weekends.

Johanna Konta met the Duchess of Cambridge at the practice courts before the match but was not aware that the tennis-loving royal was also in the stands.

MIKE DICKSON ON CENTRE COURT: It started with the Centre Court crowd tittering at the velvety baritone of umpire Nouni, and ended with them roaring Konta into the quarter finals.

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

British Number One Johanna Konta said people have told her they 'want her to die', but tries to cut herself off from it by getting a member of her team to delete hurtful comments and block trolls.

MATTHEW LAMBERT AT WIMBLEDON: The British No 1 led 4-1 in the first set but her Czech opponent reeled her back in and Konta was left looking one-dimensional by the end.

Jo Konta left Wimbledon on Tuesday night bitterly disappointed, a Grand Slam semi-final appearance spurned. She also walked away with £294,000. Rewards come with scrutiny.

MIKE DICKSON IN NEW YORK: Hardly anyone walks tightrope of deciding sets as well as Jo Konta this year, and she successfully did so once again to make the last eight of the US Open.

MIKE DICKSON IN NEW YORK: Words with negative connotations are out when it comes to the work she does with Dimitri Zavialoff. The hairdryer is strictly confined to the hotel room.

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

Labour looked set to stop Boris Johnson's plans for an early election last night following talks with the SNP. The parties are thought to have agreed an election can only come after a Brexit extension.

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'.

Former deputy leader of the SNP Jim Sillars, 82, has said that the allegations against against Mr Salmond were the 'dirtiest blow' he has ever seen delivered in his 60 years of political life.

OLIVER HOLT - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER IN NICE: From his table at a restaurant on the Promenade des Anglais, Phil Neville stares out at the shimmering waters of the Mediterranean.

James Arthur has been forced to cancel his latest gig in Barcelona due to being 'struck with illness'.

The Take That star (pictured with his wife Dawn) lodged plans to demolish a section of his five-bed Cotswolds home in Alvescot, Oxfordshire, four months ago.

The-31-year-old exuded glamour when she stepped out on Sunday night to attend a BAFTA's afterparty.

The former rugby star made the rare public declaration for his X Factor judge other half on Instagram Stories and said that she inspires him everyday.

The sports star, 34, has been dating Nicole Scherzinger, 41, since the pair hit it off after meeting on the set of The X Factor: Celebrity.

The singer, 32, gave fans a glimpse at his palatial looking home as he stays inside after admitting his 'health anxiety' has got the better of him.

The former X Factor winner, 31, who lost her mother almost three years ago, paid tribute to her on Mother's Day

The X Factor winner, 32, revealed he's 'so happy hats were invented' as he shaved his head and donated £5k to the NHS amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The former Love Island star, 23, revealed she is only just 'starting to love' her body as she posed in her underwear for a series of Instagram snaps on Monday.

Motorists in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are set to be stung in January as the 20-day petrol discounting cycle ends - just as global crude oil prices rise to a three-month high.

Martial arts champion and ONE Championship founder Chatri Sityodtong offered to fly Quaden and his family on an all-expenses paid trip to Singapore.

Slipknot have saddened fans by cancelling shows in Singapore, Jakarta and Manila as well as their own two-day Knotfest festival in Tokyo, Japan, which was due to start on March 20.

The student, aged in his 20s, arrived in Hobart on February 26 after travelling from Nepal and Singapore and suffered cold-like symptoms in the days following.

Most UK coronavirus infections could be spread unwittingly by people who have contracted the deadly illness but not yet shown symptoms (pictured, people wearing face masks in London).

Singapore-based Australian scientist Professor Dale Fisher said the country is facing a deadly few months as the country deals with an unprecedented outbreak.

Try these scrumptious recipes from James Martin's new book and TV series use the best of British produce, from succulent pork to the berries in a glorious pud.

This weekend Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury's and Asda gave masks to employees as the Government comes under more scrutiny to change their recommendations to protect workers.

The Clermont back-rower still cannot quite fathom how Ireland shut down Les Bleus in last season's fraught 15-13 victory that was snatched with Johnny Sexton's last-gasp monster drop-goal.

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has admitted that his side have struggled to cope with the pressure after their stellar 2018.

If Ireland do not rain on Wales's parade, it is certain now that Storm Hannah will. With Gareth blowing through earlier in the week, it's Hannah's turn to wreak havoc.

Best suffered the damage to his left foot in Ulster's Champions Cup quarter-final defeat by Leinster on Saturday and following a scan on Monday it was confirmed he will be fit to lead Ireland in Japan

Fly-half Rhys Patchell will be assessed ahead of Wales' World Cup departure on Wednesday after he was concussed during their final warm-up game.

RORY KEANE IN SHIZUOKA: Carty starts only his second Test in place of conductor-in-chief Johnny Sexton, who is out with a groin injury. Schmidt reckons Carty has the right stuff.

RORY KEANE IN FUKUOKA: Fourteen-man Ireland sealed their place in the World Cup quarter finals with a seven-try victory over Samoa here in Fukuoka, but Bundee Aki's red card will be a worry.

Johnny Sexton has questioned the 'strange' negativity around Ireland's World Cup campaign, insisting Joe Schmidt's men are ready to peak for the All Blacks.

The Rugby World Cup kicked off four weeks ago today and now, via 50 pool stage matches, we are down to eight teams. Sportsmail tells you all need to know about the quarter-finals.

RORY KEANE IN TOKYO: Ireland have a shot at history here on Saturday, with the All Blacks standing in the way of a place in the World Cup semi-finals.

All Blacks take on Ireland in their Rugby World Cup quarter-final clash in Japan as they look to progress to the semi-final to take on either England or Australia. Follow LIVE ACTION RIGHT HERE.

During the Joe Schmidt era, Ireland were renowned for peppering the backfield with high balls from Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray but Eddie Jones insists that England can cope with it.

DYLAN HARTLEY: A lot of people have been chucking stones at Eddie Jones but my message for the RFU is clear: give him a new contract. Dave at the pub might disagree.