England achieved something David BeckhamB次元官网网址檚 generation never managed: It reached the semifinals of the World Cup.

Harry Maguire and Dele Alli scored with headers in a 2-0 win over Sweden on Saturday, earning EnglandB次元官网网址檚 youthful team a match against either Croatia or host nation Russia for a place in the final on July 15.

B次元官网网址淲e looked composed,B次元官网网址� England captain Harry Kane said. B次元官网网址淲e looked like we controlled the game.B次元官网网址�

EnglandB次元官网网址檚 fairly muted celebrations reflected the routine nature of the victory over a hard-working Swedish side that had already gone further than expected in its first major tournament without Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

EnglandB次元官网网址檚 deep run also is a surprise. Not even the England side containing stars like Beckham, Steven Gerrard and a young Wayne Rooney ever got this far at a major tournament.

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The 1966 World Cup champions last reached the semifinals in 1990, losing the first of a series of haunting penalty shootouts. In 2014, the team didnB次元官网网址檛 even make it out of the group stage.

Yet the performances of Gareth SouthgateB次元官网网址檚 squad B次元官网网址� the second youngest at the tournament B次元官网网址� are being celebrated wildly back home. Even at Wimbledon, the home of lawn tennis, updates of EnglandB次元官网网址檚 goals were spread by fans watching or listening to the match on their cellphones.

B次元官网网址淚 know the fans here are enjoying it,B次元官网网址� Kane said. B次元官网网址淭he fans at home, IB次元官网网址檓 sure weB次元官网网址檒l see some videos tonight of them enjoying it.B次元官网网址�

The chant of B次元官网网址淥n our way, on our way, to Moscow, on our wayB次元官网网址� came from England fans in one corner of the Samara Arena throughout the match, and the teamB次元官网网址檚 march to the Russian capital is being fuelled by goals from set pieces.

There was another against Sweden, with Maguire heading in a driven corner from Ashley Young in the 30th minute. It was EnglandB次元官网网址檚 eighth set-piece goal of its 11 in Russia, and the centre backB次元官网网址檚 first in international soccer.

The standard of EnglandB次元官网网址檚 crossing has particularly stood out this tournament, and Alli added the second goal by meeting a far-post cross from midfielder Jesse Lingard with a powerful header in the 59th. At 22, Alli became the second-youngest scorer for England at a World Cup behind Michael Owen.

B次元官网网址淲e knew set plays would be key,B次元官网网址� Maguire said. B次元官网网址淎nd also that little ball that Jesse sent in for Dele, that was great. We worked on that in practice.B次元官网网址�

It proved to be a match too far for the Swedes, who advanced further than they ever did with Ibrahimovic B次元官网网址� the teamB次元官网网址檚 star for more than a decade B次元官网网址� by being compact and hard to break down. That helped them win a two-leg playoff against Italy to get to the World Cup, top a group containing Germany, and then beat Switzerland in the round of 16.

They began solidly against England in a slow and sloppy start to the game that resembled a pre-season friendly at times, only to be outdone by a goal Sweden isnB次元官网网址檛 used to conceding.

B次元官网网址淯p until that corner, I felt that we had everything under control,B次元官网网址� Sweden coach Janne Andersson said. B次元官网网址淚 felt that we had the match in our hands.B次元官网网址�

Although Sweden rallied in the final 30 minutes, forcing two good saves from goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, England comfortably held on for its first shutout of the tournament.

SterlingB次元官网网址檚 struggles

England forward Raheem Sterling has yet to score at the World Cup from his unusual position as the support striker to Kane, and his finishing let him down against Sweden.

Set clear by Jordan HendersonB次元官网网址檚 long pass over the defence late in the first half, Sterling tried to get around Sweden goalkeeper Robin Olsen but was stopped. Sterling got hold of the loose ball but his shot was deflected over.

SterlingB次元官网网址檚 movement was very good, though, causing SwedenB次元官网网址檚 slow defence problems throughout. He is likely to retain his starting place for the semifinals.

Swedish tactics

Virtually from kickoff, Sweden sent long passes forward to tall striker Ola Toivonen and looked for a flick-on. It was a sign of what was to come B次元官网网址� direct balls, long throws, pressing B次元官网网址� but those basic tactics didnB次元官网网址檛 trouble England.

The Sweden team got in a huddle after the game and Andersson spoke to the players.

B次元官网网址淲e were sad and weB次元官网网址檙e disappointed,B次元官网网址� Andersson said, B次元官网网址渂ut we mustnB次元官网网址檛 forget we put in an excellent performance. I wanted to say that already on the pitch, too, to our players.B次元官网网址�

Sweden last reached the World Cup semifinals in 1994, and ended up finishing third.

Steve Douglas, The Associated Press

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