The 'Three Lions' went into the game riding a wave of enthusiastic support from back home following their penalty shootout win over Colombia in the last 16, though their recent record against the Swedes served as a warning that the game would not be a walk in the park.
In accordance with the pre-match predictions England dominated the ball early on with Sweden content to cede possession to their opponents.
Harry Kane has the game's first real effort as he fizzed a low strike narrowly wide from 20 yards with 19 minutes gone, before England's blushes were saved by the offside flag just seven minutes later as the tightest of offside decisions denied Marcus Berg the chance of streaking away clear.
As the half-hour mark arrived, so did the opener, with Harry Maguire powering home a header from Ashley Young's left-wing corner from 12 yards to score his first goal for his country after being inexplicably left unmarked.
That goal forced the Swedes to abandon their safety-first approach and it was England who ended the half the stronger, with Raheem Sterling wasting a glorious chance after being put in one-on-one with robin Olsen by a wonderful first-time pass from Jordan Henderson.
Nevertheless, England lead at the break, knowing full well that they have only ever lost one World Cup game after taking an advantage in at the interval.