Sebastian Larsson insists England will be under more pressure than Sweden when the two teams meet in their World Cup quarter-final on Saturday.
The former Arsenal, Birmingham, Sunderland and Hull City midfielder admits England go into the match as favourites, but believes the pressure is on them to perform.
“I’m sure people back in England expect them to go through,” said Larsson.
0:38 Harry Kewell says England face a difficult test against Sweden in Saturday's World Cup quarter-final
“If they weren’t to go through and beat Sweden that would be a massive disappointment to say the least, so that’s something the English players have to deal with.”
He added: “England are favourites, yes, of course they are but we don’t mind. We still put pressure on ourselves; we don’t feel like we are satisfied here.”
Larsson made more than 400 appearances for Premier League teams before returning to Sweden with AIK earlier this summer, and the 33-year-old is looking forward to facing England in Samara.
“For me, personally, to be going up against England, the country where I have spent 17 years, it’s obviously a little bit special,” he said.
Saturday will be the first time the sides have met in a competitive match since Euro 2012, when England came from behind to win 3-2 in Kiev thanks to a late strike from Danny Welbeck.
Larsson, who will be hoping to start against England, said: “It’s a game we are really looking forward to. We have got huge respect for England, they’ve got quality players all over the pitch, and they are a good team. “
0:26 Emil Krafth says Sweden always work as a team ahead of their quarter-final match againist England
However, with just one victory over the Swedes in 10 attempts since 1995, Sweden could be regarded as England’s bogey team.
“I don’t mind, if that’s the way they want to look at it, that’s good for us,” said Larsson. “As I said, we focus on our own game.
“We have proven to ourselves and other people that when we are at the right level, we can make it very difficult for teams and we are not going to try to do anything else against England.”
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