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Reds in Russia: Lindelöf and Sweden top group, Matić and Serbia crash out

Differing fortunes for two United players on Wednesday.

Mexico v Sweden: Group F - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images

Mexico 0-3 Sweden

Sweden secured a huge victory on Wednesday, thrashing Mexico to not only advance to the knock out stage, but to do so as group winners. Both sides were evenly matched in the first half, before Sweden took over after the break. Ludwig Augustinsson opened the scoring before a penalty and an own goal within 25 minutes put the result beyond doubt.

Victor Lindelöf was part of a stubborn Sweden backline that kept a clean sheet. Fortunately for Mexico, South Korea beat the defending champions Germany in the other match in the group, meaning that El Tri still qualified.

Serbia 0-2 Brazil

Goals from Paulinho and Thiago Silva either side of halftime took Brazil past Nemanja Matić and Serbia to send Neymar and co. into the Round of 16. Matić had a typical solid performance of the middle of the park, but Serbia lacked the creativity to really threaten Brazil. Sergey Milinković-Savić had another impressive showing next to Matić in a double midfield pivot, but we don’t have to worry about scouting him anymore since Serbia are packing their bags for holidays, and Manchester United are about to re-sign Marouane Fellaini instead. Hooray.