Japan will face Brazil in the last eight – Sweden will have to wait for opponent after affair in Dallas. – It could be Norway, but then the “sweet brother” knows they are losing and have to go home.
Japan and Sweden both secured advancement from Group F of the World Cup.
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Celtic striker Daizen Maeda sent Japan into the lead, but Newcastle winger Anthony Elanga responded with a superb goal that gave Sweden four points and a place in the last eight.
Japan now face Brazil in Houston, while Sweden will have to wait to find out about their opponent. They finished third, but are predicted to face France.
Both teams knew that a draw would be enough to advance – and that led to a, perhaps understandably, rather tame first half.
Japan was still the better team and took the lead when Maeda put the finishing touches on a beautiful attacking sequence.
Sweden, who were again characterized by long periods of low engagement, still found class in Elanga’s finish – and thus took the point they needed.
Japan went undefeated through the group stage for only the second time. The last time was in 2002, when they were co-hosts.
Keito Nakamura was the highlight of the first half when he deflected a shot that required a great save from Jacob Zetterström.
Sweden manager Graham Potter fielded a Premier League attack of expensive brands – Alexander Isak, Elanga and Viktor Gyökeres – but they failed to create anything significant in the first half.
A whopping 61 percent of Japan’s World Cup goals have been scored in the second half – and Maeda delivered another one. It was deserved and beautiful when Ritsu Doan cut up Sweden with a brilliant pass. Maeda took one touch and led the ball elegantly into the far corner.
That seemed to wake Sweden up, and Elanga responded with a great individual performance – he cut inside and curled a fierce shot into the net from distance.
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As the Netherlands won the group, it seemed like both teams were happy to follow them to the last eight.
