Sweden captain Granqvist won't miss England clash for child's birth

Sweden's defensive lynchpin will do anything to play Saturday against England, even if it means missing the birth of his second child.

Surprise quarter-finalist Sweden has ridden a shrewd wave to the last eight, and much of that is due to captain Andreas Granqvist, whose two goals are both tops on the team and level with the number of times the Scandinavian side has conceded.

"I'm planning to stay," said Granqvist, whose wife was due to give birth on Tuesday, according to the Evening Standard. "My wife is a very strong person and we knew the situation before I came here."

One of three Swedes to play all 360 minutes alongside 'keeper Robin Olsen and fellow defender Ludwig Augustinsson, Granqvist has centered an organised backline that has kept clean sheets in three of its four matches.

"Nothing has happened so far. If I have the position to fly home quickly then I may do that. But, whatever happens, I do not miss the quarter-final," the towering centre-half added.

In stark contrast to England's attempts at employing a fluid attack, Sweden's defensive-minded approach will face a stern test Saturday in Samara, and from the sounds of it, Granqvist is aware of the Three Lions threat.

"Harry Kane is fantastic," the 33-year-old said. "They play more offensively now than they did before, with skilful players like (Raheem) Sterling. But they will find it difficult. We play with a very good, compact defence."