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FORS PLAY

What makes Swedish star Emil Forsberg tick, which club does he play for and what is his goal record?

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EMIL FORSBERG became a national hero when his deflected drive against Switzerland earned Sweden a World Cup quarter-final date with England on Saturday.

The 26-year-old midfielder suddenly finds himself being heralded as his nation's most exciting player since Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

 Eric Forsberg wheels away in celebration after hitting Sweden's winner against Switzerland
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Eric Forsberg wheels away in celebration after hitting Sweden's winner against SwitzerlandCredit: Getty - Contributor

Forsberg’s 66th minute strike secured Sweden their first World Cup quarter-final since 1994.

True, his right-footed shot lacked any real conviction and would have been a comfortable save for Yann Sommer.

But Manuel Akanji stuck out as boot and diverted the ball past his own keeper.

No one in Sweden cares about that, though...

 The shot that booked a World Cup quarter-final date with England
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The shot that booked a World Cup quarter-final date with EnglandCredit: Getty - Contributor
 Forsberg is engulfed by delighted teammates after his 66th minute strike
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Forsberg is engulfed by delighted teammates after his 66th minute strikeCredit: AFP
 Forsberg suddenly finds himself being heralded as his nation's most exciting player since Zlatan Ibrahimovic
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Forsberg suddenly finds himself being heralded as his nation's most exciting player since Zlatan IbrahimovicCredit: Reuters


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So tell me, what is Emil Forsberg's background?

Both Forsberg's grandad Lennart and dad Leif played for Sundsvall.

Emil was very keen on hockey and a soccer career was in jeopardy after he was rejected by the Halmstad Elite Camp - where the Swedish FA picks the youth national teams - as a teenager because of his size.

But he finally made it a family hat-trick at Sundsvall when he made his debut aged 17 in 2009.

He scored 24 goals in 97 league appearances for Sundsvall before moving to Malmo.

 Forsberg's wife Shanga is his fiercest critic
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Forsberg's wife Shanga is his fiercest criticCredit: Instagram

What happened at Malmo?

Forsberg wasn't an overnight success, struggling to settle in.

But once he did 55 first-team appearances brought 21 goals and Sweden's Midfielder of the Year award.

How did he hit the international scene and how many goals does he have for Sweden?

Forsberg player's for Sweden's Under-19s and made it at senior level with a first cap against Moldova in 2014.

He now has 40 caps and has scored seven times.

 Emil and Shanga both play for RB Leipzig
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Emil and Shanga both play for RB LeipzigCredit: Instagram

Where does he play his club football now?

After two league title wins with Malco, Forsberg left for RB Leipzig in January, 2015.

So far he has made 57 starts and scored 15 times.

In 2015/16 he led the club's historic promotion-clinching campaign with eight goals and seven assists - and he has been getting better ever since.

Sweden players and fans celebrate beating Switzerland to reach the World Cup 2018 quarter-finals

Life in the Bundesliga suited him. He produced a league-high 19 assists in his debut campaign, as well as scoring eight goals.

Forsberg also netted Leipzig's first-ever Champions League goal the following season in a 1-1 draw with Monaco.

Is Forsberg married?

Yes. Wife Shanga is also a footballer and she plays for Leipzig, too.

Forsberg says she is harshest critic, telling the Players' Tribune"The only time I get nervous in football is after I play a bad game.

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"You see, when I get home that night, I know what’s coming… a meeting with “the Sheriff.” And let me tell you, it can be brutal. The Sheriff always gives it to me straight.

"And if the Sheriff gets really peed off … well, you don’t want to be in the same room. Trust me, I know."

 

 

 

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