Mexico and Sweden square off in Yekaterinburg, both looking for a result to clinch advancement to the second round of World Cup 2018, and both keeping an eye on the other game as the complicated scenarios unwind.
• Refresh here for live World Cup updates and analysis from Russia.
• Follow our coverage of the other Group E game, Germany vs. South Korea.
• Will your team advance? Here’s a look at how each team can make the round of 16.
How to watch: In the U.S., Telemundo and Fox have the broadcast at 10 a.m., but you can stream it here.
The Scenarios
The scenarios for qualifying from this group are complicated — Sweden could win and be eliminated or lose and advance! There’s more detail further down this post, but here’s a quick version.
• Mexico must win or draw to be sure to advance. Still, If it loses, it might sneak through.
• Sweden probably needs to win, although it retains some hope with a draw or loss.
Big Stakes for Svensson
In an Instagram post, Anders Svensson of Sweden said he would give up eating tacos if Mexico knocks Sweden out. Svensson loves the food so much he is nicknamed ‘Taco.’
Chicharito on Verge of History
One of the men up front for Mexico today is 29-year-old Javier Hernandez or “Chicharito” as he is universally known. He has 50 goals in a Mexico jersey and is looking for 51, which would be a record, surpassing Luis Hernandez “El Matador,” no relation.
Mexico’s Starting Lineup
Goalkeeper: 13 Guillermo Ochoa (Standard Liege)
Defenders: 3 Carlos Salcedo (Eintracht Frankfurt), 15 Hector Moreno (Real Sociedad), 21 Edson Alvarez (America), 16 Hector Herrera (Porto)
Midfielders: 23 Jesus Gallardo (Monterrey), 18 Andres Guardado (Real Betis), 7 Miguel Layun (Sevilla)
Graphic
World Cup 2018: How Mexico, Germany, Sweden and South Korea Can Advance to the Round of 16
The group stage of the World Cup is almost over. What will it take for each team to advance to the knockout round?
Forwards: 14 Javier Hernandez (West Ham), 11 Carlos Vela (Los Angeles FC), 22 Hirving Lozano (PSV Eindhoven)
Sweden’s Starting Lineup
Goalkeeper: 1 Robin Olsen (Copenhagen)
Defenders: 2 Mikael Lustig (Celtic), 3 Victor Lindelof (Manchester United), 4 Andreas Granqvist (Krasnador), 6 Ludwig Augustinsson (Werder Bremen)
Midfielders: 7 Sebastian Larsson (Hull), 8 Albin Ekdal (Hamburg), 10 Emil Forsberg (RB Leipzig), 17 Viktor Claesson (Krasnador)
Forwards: 9 Marcus Berg (Al Ain), 20 Ola Toivonen (Toulouse)
Mexico vs. Sweden Top Story Lines
• Mexico has very nearly clinched advancement. It just needs a win or draw today. If it loses, it would still advance if Germany doesn’t beat South Korea, or if Germany wins but finishes with a smaller goal differential.
• Mexico and Sweden’s fans have developed reputations as some of the most exuberant at the Cup. Some of them even took a 27-hour train ride from Moscow to be here.
• These teams have not played a competitive match since the 1958 World Cup, held in Sweden. Sweden won that match, 3-0.
• Mexico opened the Cup with a stunning victory over Germany, with Hirving Lozano the goal-scorer. Carlos Vela and Chicharito scored in its second game, a win over South Korea.
• Mexico is the narrow favorite in this game.
• Hirving “Chucky” Lozano, the PSV Eindhoven winger who scored Mexico’s winning goal against Germany in the opener, has attracted a lot of attention during this World Cup. Reports coming out of Europe claim both Barcelona and Real Madrid are trying to sign the 22-year old.
• Weirdly enough, it is possible for Sweden to win and be eliminated, or lose and advance. Sweden would advance if it wins and Germany does not. If both win, it will come down to the goal difference between Germany, Sweden and Mexico. If Sweden draws, it must hope Germany loses or draws scoring fewer goals. If Sweden loses, it could advance only if it loses by one goal in a higher scoring game, like 3-2, and South Korea beats Germany narrowly.
• Sweden won its opener over South Korea on a Andreas Granqvist penalty. It took a 1-0 lead on Germany with Ola Toivanen scoring, but lost the lead and the game, despite a Germany red card.
• Mexico has surrendered just one goal in the tournament. Sweden has only 6 off-target shots, second to South Korea.
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