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5 Reasons Why Today’s England-Sweden Match Is Malta’s Biggest World Cup Game Yet

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England’s hero Harry Kane celebrates after scoring against Malta in Ta’ Qali

After their dramatic penalty shootout victory over Colombia, England will take on Sweden in the quarter-finals this afternoon in a game they are widely expected to win. And while the atmosphere in London and Stockholm will be incomparable, this game is also pretty huge from a Maltese perspective. In fact, we’re calling it from now – this will be Malta’s most important game in this World Cup.

1. Promise of glory for long-suffering England fans

Caracading

Maltese Italy fans car-cading (Photo: Times of Malta)

It’s been a heck of a long time since England fans, including (give or take) one half of Maltese football supporters, have had anything to cheer about. The last time they reached the semi-finals of a major tournament was back in 1996, meaning an entire generation of England fans has no idea what it feels like to be on the edge of glory. Meanwhile, they had to endure Italy winning the 2006 World Cup and finishing runners-up in a European Championship six years later.

Expect widespread car-cading and celebrations across the island if England win today.

2. England fans will be able to rub this in the faces of Italy fans

Italy

Italy’s absence from this World Cup means the tournament has, from Malta’s point of view, lacked the rivalry we have grown so accustomed to from these football tournaments. Yet, as fate would have it, the team responsible for Italy’s early elimination was none other than Sweden, meaning an England victory will also come with bragging rights for the Maltese England supporters.

3. But the Swedish fanbase could still have the last laugh

Screen Shot 2018 07 07 At 14 37 48

While England and Italy clearly reign supreme, Malta’s iGaming industry means it has a pretty large Swedish fanbase too. So much so that the organisers of Showers, an annual champagne party popular amongst the gaming crowd, have decided to set up a LED screen to show the game during the party. Swedish supporters will undoubtedly be joined by Italy fans determined not to see England win, which means this game will have all the elements of a great football atmosphere.

4. Sweden could be the ultimate underdogs

Forsberg

Maltese football fans love an underdog, probably because we can sympathise with them. And while Sweden are no Iceland, they’re nothing special on paper either and are in fact playing this World Cup without their legendary talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Yet they’ve made it this far, seeing off Italy, Germany and Switzerland (ranked as the 6th best team in the world) in the process and if this World Cup has taught us one thing it’s that anything can happen and that history is there to be written. Sweden are the team to support for neutrals this year.

5. Maltese football will have some (very slight) pride if England do win the World Cup

Muscat

England are only three wins away from winning their second World Cup, an achievement that would elevate its manager Gareth Southgate to eternal Alf Ramsey-like cult status. Yet history will also record that Southgate’s first game as England manager came against Malta in Wembley two years ago. Malta lost that one 2-0, but they did manage to keep a clean sheet in the second half. Will we able to say one day that Malta held a World Cup winning manager for an entire half of football? It’s not much but we’ll take what we can get…

Who do you think will win this game?

READ NEXT: Malta’s Currently Kicking Ass At The World Cup Of Tennis

Tim is interested in the rapid evolution of human society and is passionate about justice, human rights and cutting-edge political debates. You can follow him on Instagram or Twitter/X at @timdiacono or reach out to him at [email protected]

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