By Bilal Ahmed
Sweden secured a spot in the last 32 of the World Cup after a draw against Japan. This outcome means both teams will advance to the knockout stage. Anthony Elanga scored for Sweden, while Daizen Maeda found the net for Japan.
The match saw Elanga score a goal in the second half, allowing Sweden to come from behind and earn a point. Sweden currently holds four points in Group F, placing them in third position, which is enough to see them through to the next round. Japan finished second in the group, behind the Netherlands, who defeated Tunisia.
Japan is now set to play against Brazil in the last 32. Sweden will face one of France, Norway, Germany, or Switzerland in their upcoming match.
Second Half Action
The first half of the match was relatively quiet, with both teams seemingly content with a goalless draw, resulting in a lack of intensity. However, the dynamic shifted after the break.
Celtic’s Daizen Maeda opened the scoring for Japan in the 56th minute. This goal followed a well-executed play involving Ayase Ueda and Ritsu Doan, with Doan setting up Maeda for the finish.
Within six minutes of Japan’s goal, Elanga equalised for Sweden. The Newcastle United winger, making his first start of this World Cup, moved in from the left side of the field before unleashing a powerful strike from the edge of the box. Japan’s goalkeeper, Zion Suzuki, appeared to react late to the shot and was unable to prevent it from entering the net.
Following a hydration break in the second half, the pace of the game decreased somewhat. Despite this, Elanga and Alexander Isak managed to force two notable saves from Suzuki during stoppage time, as Japan maintained their second-place position in the group.
Group F Dynamics
The match between Japan and Sweden was the final fixture in Group F. Japan had previously shown composure in their games against the Netherlands and Tunisia. Sweden, on the other hand, had experienced varied results against the same opponents, with one decisive victory and one significant defeat.
A win for either team in this match would have guaranteed them at least a second-place finish in the group. The top two teams from Group F will proceed to face their counterparts from Group C in the last 32 stage of the tournament.
Sweden’s coach, Graham Potter, has seen his team score 17 goals while conceding 19 since he took over from Jon Dahl Tomasson last October. This period followed a challenging qualifying campaign that was ultimately salvaged by playoff victories over Ukraine and Poland. Potter has emphasised the importance of defensive compactness for his team.
Japan defender Shogo Taniguchi had previously highlighted the threat posed by Sweden’s strikers, Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres, describing them as two of the strongest forwards in the tournament. Taniguchi stressed the need for Japan’s defence to remain close to them throughout the game.
The match was held at the Dallas Stadium in Texas. In the other Group F match played on the same day, the Netherlands faced Tunisia in Kansas City, aiming to secure the top spot in the group.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Mexico | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 9 | No Result No Result No Result W Result… |
| 2 South Africa | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 4 | No Result No Result No Result L Result… |
| 3 South Korea | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 3 | No Result No Result No Result W Result… |
| 4 Czech Republic | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 1 | No Result No Result No Result L Result… |
Tunisia had already been eliminated from the tournament after suffering two heavy losses, conceding nine goals in the process. Their coach, Herve Renard, had indicated that this match would be his last in charge of the team. The Netherlands led Group F on goal difference over Japan, with both teams having four points and a goal difference of +4. Sweden had three points, while Tunisia had yet to register any points.
The draw ensured both Japan and Sweden progressed to the next stage of the World Cup.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
