Sweden need only to avoid defeat in Wednesday's final group game, but know they have their work cut out to hold off a wounded and dangerous Argentina team.

Luckily, they have spies like Goran Goransson, who has spent the past few months studying the Argentines and who in typically open Swedish style spilled the beans to the press on Sunday.

"You can take the game against England as a good game to watch to see how to play against Argentina," said the 46-year-old who works as a fireman in Sweden when he is not involved in football espionage.

"Argentina attack with very many players and so, of course, if you can counter-attack you maybe can get one or two chances."

England stunned the fancied Argentines on Friday, beating them 1-0 and coming close to scoring several more, often through quick counter-attacks.

Goransson has been following the South Americans since their World Cup warm-up games in Europe and has been trying to get into their training camps in Japan, but with limited success.

"I tried to follow them on their training camp, but I couldn't because I hadn't the right accreditation and when I got one they wouldn't let me in," he said.

Goransson said he was surprised by England's win, having thought that Argentina's superior speed and technical ability would give them victory.

He said winning the midfield battle against Argentina's talented playmakers would be key to Sweden's chances, just as it was for England.

But he also warned of the danger of defending as deep as the English did when they came under intense pressure late in the game.

"If you see the first half England played against Argentina, that was very good. The second half, when they had such a deep defence, I think is going to be a bit risky against Argentina. You must play a little more up the field."

The Swedes also employed a spy against Nigeria, helping them to secure a 2-1 victory over the Africans on Friday.