Victor Lindelof has starred at the World Cup with Sweden so far When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. That is the verdict of BBC Sport pundit and former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand. Lindelof joined United from Benfica for just over £30million last summer. However, he struggled to gain a regular place in the starting XI and flattered to deceive when he did feature. Ferdinand has been impressed with the 23-year-old at the World Cup so far. England vs Sweden LIVE: World Cup score updates<doc-sep>The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Who do United need to sign to mount a title challenge? Get our daily Manchester United email newsletter Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign me up! Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Sweden defender Victor Lindelof will back his English Manchester United pals for the rest of the World Cup. The £30million centre-half is back home after his side were beaten 2-0 by Gareth Southgate’s men in Samara on Saturday. Lindelof’s United team-mate Marcus Rashford made a bee-line for him at the final whistle to console him. United’s Ashley Young and Phil Jones also had words with the 23-year-old defender behind the scenes afterwards. Lindelof said: “I just spoke with them you know and they gave me a hug and I congratulated them on the win and wished them good luck. “I have wished them all the best and I will be cheering for England to win it now because they are my friends. (Image: REUTERS) (Image: AFP) “Of course, it’s the biggest disappointment of my career so far. It is the World Cup, it is the biggest thing you can play in for your national team. To lose in the quarter-finals is tough. I’m very, very disappointed.” Asked how far England could now go in the competition, Lindelof insisted they have the quality to make it past Croatia and through to Sunday’s final. He said: “They are a very good team. They have good quality players. They have a good chance to make it through to the final.”<doc-sep>Get the latest United updates, transfer news and analysis delivered straight to your inbox every day for free Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Victor Lindelof needs Jose Mourinho and his United team-mates to believe in him like his Swedish counterparts have to fulfil his potential at Old Trafford, according to Rio Ferdinand. The 23-year-old enjoyed an impressive World Cup and was at the heart of his country's march to the quarter-finals before they were eliminated by England on Saturday. Calm and assured alongside skipper Andreas Granqvist, and not afraid to bark orders to his fellow defenders, Lindelof hardly put a foot wrong in Sweden's five games in Russia. Unsurprisingly, those performances have gotten fans excited after Lindelof quietly improved as the season wore on at United following a confidence-shattering display at Huddersfield. And Ferdinand, who knows all about being a big-money signing, feels he needs the backing of his club team-mates to replicate those international performances at Old Trafford. "He’s been immense for them in this tournament," he told the BBC ahead of England's win in Samara. "He’s 23 years old, he’s young, he came to Man United with a big, big price tag from Benfica. "He didn’t seem to have the confidence in a Man United shirt that I’ve seen in a Sweden shirt. The manager, the staff, the players in that team look like they believe in this boy. "It doesn’t seem he has that at the moment at Manchester United and that’s what’s affected him." Get all the latest Manchester United news first with our new app. Download it here now<doc-sep>The defender had been branded as a flop by some, after failing to make an impact at Old Trafford, but the World Cup has reminded people of his talent Manchester United are targeting a new centre back this summer, but the £31.5 million ($42m) signing from Benfica, Victor Lindelof, has proven his quality in Sweden's colours ahead of a quarter-final match against England. The 23-year-old may be on the verge of being replaced but Jose Mourinho might want to think twice as he watches his defender play, while working for the television station Russia Today (RT). Sweden's success in Russia has been built on the basis of a solid defence, with Lindelof completing 90 minutes all but his side's first game against South Korea, which he missed through illness. Janne Andersson's side have kept three clean sheets in four games, having only failed to shut out Germany, despite taking them all the way until a last minute Toni Kroos free-kick denied them a point in a 2-1 defeat. Andersson has used team spirit and a deep defensive line to fashion one of the most fearsome defences at the World Cup. The work rate is combined with knowing their limitations. Sweden defend deep, looking to the wings as they hit teams on the break. Their whole squad is a key part of their defensive unit with their main striker Marcus Berg playing close to the line, which is shown by the fact he had made more fouls than any other player after the last 16 matches. In the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, defence has been the focus, with the record extending to 10 clean sheets in their last 16 games. And they've needed to be at their best defensively as Sweden has only been able to keep possession for 38 per cent of their matches so far. Lindelof's contribution has varied from game-to-game with his best display coming against Mexico. Against El Tri he managed a team high of seven clearances, while also winning 80% of his duels. He was impressive against Switzerland too. Mourinho may still point to how Lindelof was shaken under the pressure of Germany, with the World Cup's top scorer in Harry Kane ready to provide him with another big test. He might also say how it isn't Lindelof but Andreas Granqvist who has been Sweden's star defender in Russia. The experienced Sweden captain has lead the way for his team, by taking the armband and producing top class displays. Manchester United have needed Lindelof to show more in order to prove they can rely upon him in big matches, but his national team manager came to his defence when asked about him ahead of his quarter-final game. "He and Andreas [Granqvist] have played together of course, they've been the centre back partnership," Andersson said when asked by Goal. "Granvist is also the future but perhaps not to the same extent. Article continues below "Victor put in great performances for the national team, he had a great first season in England [while needing] to adapt, he's performed brilliantly in national colours so we have many good years to look forward to and possibly with Granqvist as well." Against England, Lindelof can be sure that all the necessary eyes at Manchester United will be on him as his team go beyond expectations at the showpiece event. Lindelof is Sweden's only player at an elite club and he is fighting to remain there, but on the showing of this World Cup, he may have given Mourinho one or two things to think about.<doc-sep>
Reaching a World Cup semi-final is a remarkable achievement - especially if you play for England. The Three Lions have only managed that feat on two previous occasions and have had to wait 28 years to get to this stage of the competition. But Jesse Lingard , Ashley Young , Marcus Rashford and Phil Jones can now look forward to a date with Croatia at the Luzhniki Stadium on Wednesday following their 2-0 win against Sweden. It would have been understandable for United's English contingent to get carried away in celebration but it was noticeable how Rashford made a beeline for club team-mate Victor Lindelof at the final whistle. Lindelof has been one of United's big performers in Russia this summer but is now on his way home and Rashford knows that pain well. The 20-year-old exited Euro 2016 at the hands of Iceland and those memories will have come flooding back as he comforted his team-mate. It brought back memories of how Rashford put his arm around Lindelof down at Swansea in October - just days after the defender's confidence-shattering display against Huddersfield. Jones, who was an unused substitute, also showed his class at the end of England's win and made his way over to Lindelof to console him. The Swede took to Instagram after the game to post a simple 'thank you' message to his one million followers and will now spend some time away before returning for pre-season training. Get all the latest Manchester United news first with our new app. Download it here now