adminSAINT PETERSBURG. – Switzerland forward Breel Embolo hopes to round off a dream week by securing a place in the Soccer World Cup quarter-finals when his country face Sweden in St Petersburg today.
The match kicks-off at 4pm.
Embolo flew straight home from Switzerland’s 2-2 draw in their final Group E game against Costa Rica in Nizhny Novgorod to attend the birth of his daughter, who was born late on Thursday. “It was perfect timing,” the Schalke youngster told reporters. “I went straight to the hospital from the airport and arrived just in time.
“I’m delighted. Naliya’s birth is by far the best present I’ve ever had in my life.
“Now, I hope I won’t be flying back to Switzerland any time soon. We still want to achieve something here in Russia.”
Embolo is yet to find the net in two substitute appearances and a start so far in Russia but could provide an alternative at center-forward for head coach Vladimir Petkovic, where Haris Seferovic and Mario Gavranovic have both failed to impress. Josip Drmic pressed his own case by scoring against Costa Rica.
“Sweden are a strong team,” the 21-year-old said. “But we’ll be very well prepared. We’ll give it our all to get to the quarter-finals. “Two years ago, we lost to Poland in the last 16 at Euro 2016. We learned from that. The fact we’ve been able to come from behind twice here in Russia shows we’re ready for more.”
This is a huge opportunity for both Sweden and Switzerland, and no doubt they know it. While hopes were of course high after positive qualifying campaigns – albeit via the playoffs – there is now a ticket into the last eight which both will feel fully capable of grasping. – AFP.
Online Reporter
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