Sweden play South Korea in a Group F match in Nizhny Novgorod on Monday.
Where: Nizhny Novgorod Stadium
Capacity: 43,319
When: Monday June 18, 1500 local (1200 GMT/8 AM ET)
Referee: To be announced
Key stats:
– Sweden are back for the first time since 2006 as they compete at a 12th World Cup finals, having upset Italy in the playoffs last November. Their best result was runners-up when they hosted the 1958 tournament.
– South Korea have qualified for every World Cup since 1986, making it now nine in a row, with their best performance reaching the semi-final when they were co-hosts with Japan of the 2002 tournament.
– Sweden have not won their opening game at any World Cup since 1958, when they beat Mexico 3-0 on home soil. Since then, they have drawn five and lost two.
– The Koreans have won only one of their last nine World Cup games, which was a 2-0 victory over Greece in their opening game in 2010.
Previous meetings: They have played four times, with Sweden winning twice and the other two being drawn. Last meeting: South Korea 2 Sweden 2 (Seoul, 2005)
