KOREA REPUBLIC
Preview: Sweden v Korea Republic

© AFP
​Maiden meeting between Sweden and Korea Republic at the World Cup
Reigning champions Germany and Mexico are the other sides in Group F
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With defending champions Germany looming large in Group F, Sweden and Korea Republic are well aware that their opening match at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ could well decide their future in the competition.

The game is Sweden’s first in the world finals in 12 years, and while they make their return without their talisman of the last decade, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, they are a solid, well-knit unit that qualified for Russia 2018 at the expense of Italy no less.

As for the South Koreans, who are embarking on their tenth World Cup campaign, they have a very clear objective: to improve on their performance in Brazil four years ago, when they collected a solitary point in the group stage and went home early.