World Cup 2018: Mexico vs Sweden prediction, team news and preview with Group F all to play for
El Tri have been one of best teams of tournament so far while Scandinavians were unlucky to lose to Germany
MEXICO host Sweden on Wednesday looking to top Group F.
El Tri shocked Germany in the opening round and ran out 2-1 winners against South Korea to put themselves firmly in the driving seat.
Sweden can still qualify for the knockout rounds if they beat or draw with Mexico and Die Mannschaft fail to beat South Korea.
Or both Germany and Sweden can go through with a win each as long as the Scandinavians' goal difference is better than Mexico.
Here is everything you need to know about the game at Central Stadium in Yekaterinburg . . .
Best bet
Mexico have been one of the most impressive team at Russia 2018.
Sweden were unlucky not to get a result against Germany - with Marcus Berg's penalty appeals waved away - but are fighting for their World Cup campaign.
Janne Andersson's men will need to take the game to Mexico, but that could play straight into the Central Americans' hands as they proved to be deadly on the counter attack.
have draw at half-time and Mexico to win at a tasty 9/2.
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Fact me
- Mexico and Sweden have faced each other on nine occasions but only once at a World Cup, Sweden winning 3-0 in their opening group stage match in 1958.
- Mexico have only lost one of their last five matches against the Swedes (W2 D2), however they’ve all been friendlies.
- Sweden have kept clean sheets in three of their four World Cup contests against CONCACAF sides – winning two and drawing one (L1).
- Mexico have never won three consecutive matches at the World Cup and could become the first CONCACAF team to achieve this feat in World Cup history.
- Sweden’s defeat to Germany was their first in the group stage of the World Cup since 1990, when they lost 2-1 to Costa Rica.
- Mexico have lost just two of their last 19 World Cup group stage matches (W10 D7).
- Sweden have won only four of their last 13 World Cup games when they’ve scored first (D5 L4).
- Javier Hernandez’s goal in Mexico’s 2-0 win over South Korea was his fourth at the World Cup – only Luis Hernandez has scored as many for Mexico in World Cup history (also four).
- Sweden’s Ola Toivonen didn’t score in 23 matches for Toulouse in Ligue 1 in the 2017-18, failing with all 19 of his shots – at the 2018 World Cup, Toivonen has scored one goal from just two shots.
- Sweden registered just 24% possession in their 2-1 defeat to Germany, their lowest figure in a World Cup match since 1966.