The tables are set. Sweden need at least a point in the game against England, or they are out of the tournament. And with their backs against the wall the Swedes can lean towards their record against the Three Lions through history.

Sweden have lost just one game against the English the past 40 years (November 2011 in a friendly game). And in competitive games Sweden have not lost since 1908, at the Olympics in London.

However, no history in the world will save a team performing anywhere near the level Sweden did in their opening game against Ukraine. So in this do-or-die game Sweden will have to start showing some character to be able to continue writing history.

There will definitely be changes to the line up for this, the second game. Anders Svensson will probably start in central midfield. Johan Elmander will probably also start, replacing Markus Rosenberg up front.

We may even see Christian Wilhelmsson out on the left wing and Jonas Olsson in central defence with Andreas Granqvist moving out to a fullback position, replacing Mikael Lustig. As many as four changes if Erik Hamrén is bold.

One who definitely will start is Ibrahimovic. And even though England this far has looked a better team, they have no player matching ‘Ibra’ in quality. And that star quality might just be what keeps Sweden in this tournament, at least for four more days.

Kristopher Karlsson

For those hoping to get a feel of how Sweden stand compared to France, the game against Serbia was a disappointment. Serbia changed 10 (!) players from the line up against France so any attempted at comparisons will be distorted.

Sweden won the match 2-1 after goals by Toivonen and Ibrahimović (penalty) but there are clouds in the sky for the Swedes. Serbia were the better team for the first half and substitutions in the second half make analysis harder for the latter part of the game.

Sweden conceded the goal from a corner and with the tallest team in the upcoming Euros those are not the kind of goals Sweden will want to concede.

I am left with the worrying feeling that Sweden will struggle to keep clean sheets against all the teams in the group. An injury to regular starter Majstorović in central defence in late February has really weakened this team defensively.

There is no obvious replacement and Andreas Granqvist and Jonas Olsson will fight for that spot right up until match day against the Ukraine. Both have been given chances and neither of them has really impressed. Add to that keeper Andreas Isaksson struggling to find his form coming back from an injury to his shoulder and Sweden look genuinely weak at the back.

One can only hope that the attackers carry the weight and score the goals that very much will be needed during the group stage.

On a more amusing note, Aleksandar Kolarov asked Ibrahimović for his shirt when the AC Milan striker was on his way off the pitch in the 81^st minute. Funny, as they may play together at the Etihad Stadium next season.

Kristopher Karlsson