England must cast off burden of history against Swedes

All the talk after England’s uninspiring yet nevertheless, satisfactory, draw against France was that one victory over Sweden on Friday will leave them within touching distance of the quarter-finals and potentially kick-start a new era under manager Roy Hodgson.

But they will need to heed lessons from the past to make that future a reality.

On paper, the Swedes should not be feared but the truth is rather different — and it’s a truth that has been replayed time and time again over the last decade.