Sweden vs. England
Quarterfinal, Samara Arena, Samara
The first quarterfinal from the, er, less traditional side of the bracket features teams that might be considered overachievers at this World Cup. No one expected much of Sweden, despite it having defeating world powers such as Portugal, France and Italy in international play over the past two years, perhaps due in part to the Swedes’ lack of star power. No one expected much of England because, despite a energetic and talented roster full of stars, its fan base has been conditioned well.