Sweden vs South Korea LIVE World Cup 2018: Kick-off time, what channel, team news, betting odds
Sweden will be desperate to get their first World Cup 2018 finals campaign for 12 years off to a winning start when they face Group F minnows South Korea in Nizhny Novgorod on Monday.
Janne Andersson’s team lack star power without Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but formidable organisation and team spirit got them to Russia at the expense of Netherlands and Italy.
South Korea have been hit by injuries in the build-up to this tournament, and expectations are low for the least heralded squad they have ever sent to a World Cup.
12 mins: A yellow card for Kim Shin-Wook. The South Korean striker is desperate to get on the end of every loose ball, but shows too much exuberance here by diving in on Viktor Claesson and catching him on the shin. Salvadorian referee Joel Aguilar had no hesitation on cautioning the forward.
9 mins: South Korea continue to dominate the ball, and have Sweden penned back in their own half. Thankfully most of the action is on the Korean left, which is in the portion of the pitch in shadow. The right side is flooded in sunshine which make the yellow Swedish shirts difficult to pick out.
5 mins: South Korea force the first corner of the game, a testing inswinger from the right that Robin Olsen is required to punch away. The Sweden goalkeeper was under some intense physical pressure, which the Koreans are well known for, from the rampaging Lee Jae-Sung.
2 mins: There's a short pause in play which gives me just enough time to fire off an email to The Independent's sports desk enquiring, in the strongest possible language, why I have been scheduled in for another Jon Champion and Ally McCoist game.
KICK OFF: South Korea get us underway in Nizhny Novgorod. The prize for these, the two outsiders in Group F, is the knowledge that a victory here will have them three points clear of the reigning world champions, Germany, going into the second set of group fixtures.
The teams are in the tunnel. After Germany faltered against Mexico yesterday, a win here is essential for both countries - only one can get it though and it's now time to find out who that will be?
The supporters are taking their seats inside the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium and it's fair to say that one set are more excited about this contest than the other.
Here is a reminder of how we assessed the two countries' chances before a ball was kicked.
First up, it's Janne Andersson's Sweden squad, who have arrive at in international tournament without Zlatan Ibrahimovic in their ranks for the first time in years.
Good morning and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of the Group F encounter between Sweden and South Korea at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.
Please allow a moment for the blog to load.
What time is kick-off?
Sweden vs South Korea kicks off at 1pm.
Where can I watch it?
The game will be broadcast live on ITV.
Odds
Sweden Win: 11/10
South Korea Win: 7/2
Draw: 41/18
Prediction
Sweden 2-0 South Korea: Andersson’s team will have too much in the final third for their opponents, particularly with Emil Forsberg pulling the strings.
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
