We have won just six of the 19 internationals played so far – and we haven’t managed a single victory in any of the last ten matches.

England were top dogs in the early years and won the first four matches. Aston Villa inside-forward Billy Walker scored twice as England triumphed 4-2 in Stockholm on 21st May 1923 and three days later we won again, this time 3-1. In the last meeting before the war England won 4-0 in the Rasunda with Stoke City’s Freddie Steele grabbinga hat-trick.

The first post-war England v Sweden international was also the first on English soil. The home team dominated the first half at Highbury in 1947, with Mortensen (twice) and Lawton scoring to leave us 3-1 up. But we faded after the break and Gren’s successful penalty raised Swedish hopes of an equaliser. Then "Morty" completed his hat-trick after a brilliant 40-yard run to make the final score 4-2.

Sweden played at Wembley for the first time in 1959 and it turned out to be a great day for the Scandinavians.

Not since ‘53, when Hungary produced a memorable display to end England’s unbeaten record at home to continental opposition, had Wembley visitors given the home side such a footballing lesson. There were deft touches throughout from some highly talented Swedish players and Simonsson (twice) and Salomonsson netted in a 3-2 win.

England hit back to win twice in the 1960s, 2-1 in Gothenburg in 1965 and 3-1 in 1968 with Peters, Charlton and Hunt scoring at Wembley. But we haven’t been able to claim a victory since then! England and Sweden didn’t meet in a competitive fixture until 1988, when a World Cup qualifier finished goalless at Wembley.

The return in Stockholm a year later saw Terry Butcher cut his forehead in an aerial collision with Ekstrom and finish the game with his white England shirt crimson. But we held on for a precious point and ultimately made it through to the finals in Italy.

Sweden were European Championship hosts in 1992 and England had to beat them in Stockholm to be sure of a place in the semi-finals. David Platt gave us a fourth-minute lead and a second goal would surely have finished the Swedes off. But it didn’t come and a transformed home side netted twice in the second half through Eriksson and Brolin.

The teams clashed again in the qualifiers for Euro 2000. England enjoyed a terrific start in the Rasunda as Shearer’s free-kick put us ahead after only two minutes but Sweden hit back to win 2-1. In the Wembley return England played with spirit and character but only managed a 0-0 draw, the fifth against the Swedes.

Which brings us up to the most recent international, a World Cup Finals match in Saitama two years ago. In an especially poignant match for England’s Swedish-born coach, Sol Campbell headed England in front from David Beckham’s corner on 23 minutes. It was Sol’s first and, so far, only England goal. Becks was winning his 50th cap. Then a Danny Mills error led to Alexandersson’s equaliser on the hour.

England’s record against Sweden is P19, W6, D8, L5.


Date

Opponents

Venue

Comp

Score

21 May 23

Sweden

Stockholm

F

4-2

24 May 23

Sweden

Stockholm

F

3-1

17 May 37

Sweden

Stockholm

F

4-0

19 Nov 47

Sweden

Highbury

F

4-2

13 May 49

Sweden

Stockholm

F

1-3

16 May 56

Sweden

Stockholm

F

0-0

28 Oct 59

Sweden

Wembley

F

2-3

16 May 65

Sweden

Gothenburg

F

2-1

22 May 68

Sweden

Wembley

F

3-1

10 June 79

Sweden

Stockholm

F

0-0

10 Sep 86

Sweden

Stockholm

F

0-1

19 Oct 88

Sweden

Wembley

WCQ

0-0

06 Sep 89

Sweden

Stockholm

WCQ

0-0

17 Jun 92

Sweden

Stockholm

ECF

1-2

08 Jun 95

Sweden

Leeds

F

3-3

05 Sep 98

Sweden

Stockholm

ECQ

1-2

05 Jun 99

Sweden

Wembley

ECQ

0-0

10 Nov 01

Sweden

Old Trafford

F

1-1

02 Jun 02

Sweden

Saitama

WCF

1-1

31 Mar 04

Sweden

Gothenburg

F

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