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.

Did you know?
The two sides first faced off at the 1948 Olympic Games in London, where the Swedes won 12-0. Their only meetings since then have come in friendlies, with the Scandinavians winning one of them 2-0 and the other two ending in draws. Can the Taeguk Warriors end their winless run against Sweden in the first world finals encounter between the two nations?

Possible line-ups:
Sweden: Olsen; Lustig, Granqvist, Lindelof, Augustinsson; Claesson, Larsson, Ekdal, Forsberg; Berg, Toivonen.

Korea Republic: Kim Seunggyu; Lee Yong, Kim Younggwon, Jang Hyunsoo, Park Jooho; Ki Sungyueng, Jung Wooyoung; Hwang Heechan, Lee Jaesung, Son Heungmin; Kim Shinwook.

MyVILLAGEpeople:
Abeg shey North Korea no dey play ball ni..

Emekus92:
Even this Korea came prepared.

chiiraq802:
Match weh ZLATAN no dey play, dat wan na match..