Thunder rumbled as the players boarded the team buses but it would take more than another mighty storm crashing ashore from the Black Sea to clear the air.

Former Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic hung up his international boots following Euro 2016 in France, scoring a record 62 times in 116 appearances for Sweden.

AMITAI WINEHOUSE: At some point, the world is going to stop listening to Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Thankfully, Sweden have already moved beyond him.

The long-standing rivalry between England and Scotland means many Scots support whichever team is playing against their south of the border neighbours.

In the interview area beneath the St Petersburg Stadium, Swedish star Viktor Claesson was asked the question, the Zlatan question. If you are Swedish, the question always arrives eventually.

The Russian National Tourist Office reiterated on social media on Thursday morning that the embassy was now making an exception to their usual process and issuing visas within one working day.

Few countries have crossed paths with England as regularly as Sweden. Ahead of the seismic meeting in Samara, Sportsmail spoke to some of the key players in those dramas.

The last time a Scandinavian nation beat England in the World cup the reaction from Norwegian commentator Bjørge Lillelien was pretty un-Scandinavian to say the least.

England have booked their place in the semi-finals at the World Cup and it was all down to hard work on and off the pitch throughout the tournament, says BBC pundit Alan Shearer. 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic appears to be ready to hold up his end of the bargain he has with David Beckham after his beloved Sweden were knocked out of the World Cup by England on Saturday.

Victor Lindelof will return from the Russia World Cup with his stock higher than ever before, and has a series of clubs interested in acquiring his services on loan for next season.

Turkey substitute Emre Akbaba got two late goals to snatch a stunning 3-2 win over Sweden in the Nations League as the visitors recovered from two goals down at the Friends Arena on Monday.

The 33-year-old former Wigan Athletic centre-back has been key to Sweden 's impressive defensive record and captained his country at the World Cup forming a partnership with United's Victor Lindelof.

Victor Lindelof issued his former Manchester United and Sweden team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic a light-hearted warning after scoring just his second international goal on Tuesday night.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has played for European giants across the biggest leagues, including Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United.

On Tuesday afternoon, supporters flocked to Malmo's stadium to see Zlatan Ibrahimovic himself unveil the bronze statue, commissioned by the Swedish FA.

Alexander Isak has been compared to Zlatan Ibrahimovic since racing on the scene at 16. He turned down Real Madrid as a youngster and is now showing his true potential with Real Sociedad.

The 38-year-old striker, who rejoined the club on December 27 in a surprise switch, will have his contract automatically extended for a season should Milan qualify for the Champions League.

LAURA LAMBERT ON COURT NO 1: Jo Konta made light work of her first-round match at Wimbledon, impressing the Duchess of Cambridge with a straight-sets victory on No1 Court.

Johanna Konta knows she faces an 'inspired' opponent in Petra Kvitova in the last 16 at Wimbledon on Monday. Czech sixth seed Kvitova has breezed into the fourth round.

MIKE DICKSON ON CENTRE COURT: It started with the Centre Court crowd tittering at the velvety baritone of umpire Nouni, and ended with them roaring Konta into the quarter finals.

British Number One Johanna Konta has beaten Czech player Petra Kvitova to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals.

MIKE DICKSON IN NEW YORK: This time there were no recriminations or spats with the media, just the numbing disappointment of another missed opportunity.

On his first visit to Scotland, Mr Johnson told the SNP leader the UK would leave the EU on Halloween. He was booed by protesters in Edinburgh.

The SNP leader made the admission as she addressed the Holyrood parliament and tore into the Prime Minister after his election win. The SNP itself now holds 47 of the 59 seats in Scotland.

Hosts on Airbnb have been flouting the coronavirus lockdown rules by advertising their properties as 'Covid-19 retreats' on the popular rental website.

OLIVER HOLT - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER IN NICE: From his table at a restaurant on the Promenade des Anglais, Phil Neville stares out at the shimmering waters of the Mediterranean.

EXCLUSIVE: The PFA have been accused of ignoring requests for help from lower league players allegedly cheated out of their life savings by former Wales international David Cotterill.

SAMI MOKBEL: It's the size of the challenge that galvanises Raheem Sterling - nothing else. That's why the natural next step in his career is to join one of the Spanish giants - Barcelona or Real Madrid.

The former X Factor judge, 67, celebrated her theatre stint for Nativity! The Musical with her daughter Kelly, 35, during a gala night, held at Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, London, on Thursday.

JAN MOIR: Oh my friends, it's been a long, hard year. Brexit, a General Election, Cats the movie, Prince Andrew, Greggs vegan sausage rolls, and the celebrity version of The X Factor.

The singer, 31, was one of the stars set to perform at the service on Monday alongside fellow hitmaker Craig David.

The X Factor winner, 32, revealed he's 'so happy hats were invented' as he shaved his head and donated £5k to the NHS amid the coronavirus pandemic.

While she waited with bent knees, former X Factor star Olly climbed on top of her before leaning backwards and resting his entire body weight onto his girlfriend.

The singer, 35, put a lot of effort into the video as he also donned an outfit inspired by Tiger King's Joe Exotic in an animal print top, blue jeans and a blond mullet.

The singer, 26, sizzled in the music video for her latest single called Lost which was released on Friday.

Australian parents have been warned by child safety experts to monitor children who use the app 'Likee'.

Singapore Airlines is one of the most lauded carriers in the world, with more awards than you can shake a designer amenity kit at. But the scores from these experts are far from perfect...

An Australian cruise ship has been forced to evacuate 2,000 passengers in Singapore after a contagious virus caused mass vomiting and diarrhoea.

The Holiday Guru is always on call to answer your questions. This week's topics also include visiting Carcassonne in France and tips on sharing a cabin with a snorer on a cruise.

A Chinese man diagnosed in Queensland with coronavirus also spent time in Melbourne, and four fellow travellers are now ill and being tested for the disease.

Married At First Sight's Hayley Vernon finally revealed her drug-fuelled past to husband David Cannon on Thursday's episode.

The mother rushed the child to A&E at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry on Thursday after informing medics who were awaiting their arrival.

Married At First Sight's first six couples embarked on their honeymoons on Thursday, after tying the knot in non-legally binding ceremonies.

The man, who returned from Singapore by plane last week, took himself to A&E at the Royal Sussex in Brighton on Sunday before he was transferred to Guy's Hospital in London (pictured).

Married At First Sight newlyweds David Cannon and Hayley Vernon had the honeymoon from hell - but viewers apparently didn't see the half of it.

The middle-aged British man contracted the virus during a conference at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Singapore organised by Servomex, a British gas analytics company, more than two weeks ago.

Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, director general at the WHO, urged other countries to 'step up' preparations for outbreaks. It follows news of a 'super-spreader' businessman from Brighton

Close proximity to others, not having symptoms or unknowingly shedding a large amount of a virus may make someone a 'super-spreader' like New York chef, Typhoid Mary (pictured right).

The employment platform closed three offices on Monday, ordering more than 1,000 staff in Dublin, Sydney, and Singapore to work from home.