It has been a rollercoaster sort of World Cup campaign for Sweden from the day they qualified, and it seems that this ride might have a few more moments of whiplash to hurl at Graham Potter's side before its ending. That could come with defeat to Japan in the final round of games in Group F, though it might take a tough defeat in Arlington to eliminate the Swedes from contention.
Then again, that has been this team's stock trade for a fair while now. In qualifying, Sweden were beaten home and away by Kosovo and Switzerland, losing 4-1 to the latter in Geneva, and it was only thanks to an impressive record in UEFA's Nations League that this team got a second bite at the cherry under new manager Potter. Perhaps Ukraine at a neutral venue and a home game against Poland was little more than a favorable path for Sweden, as was that 5-1 win over Tunisia to open up this tournament. Maybe a 5-1 hammering against the Dutch was a reality check.
It might be that Sweden are to international football what Viktor Gyokeres is to Arsenal, very capable of crushing lesser opposition but found out against those who can keep them from goal. If that is the case, then there is a great deal to fear from a Japan side who defended impressively even as they conceded two to the Netherlands. Hajime Moriyasu's side have a great many of the qualities that Potter simply has not had the time to instil into Sweden. When they move forward or backwards, they do so as a unit. The absence of key players such as Kaoru Mitoma and Wataru Endo has not particularly set Japan off course. Any one of half a dozen might deliver for this team.
Will Sweden need one of Gyokeres or Alexander Isak to deliver? It seems likely, and of course, they just might. Do so and this weird ride of a World Cup campaign will have a few more ups and downs to it.
Viewing information
Date: Thursday, June 25 | Time: 7 p.m. ET Location: AT&T Stadium -- Arlington, Texas TV: FOX (Eng), Universo (Spa) | Live stream: Fubo (Try for free) Odds: Japan -118 | Draw +260 | Sweden +280
Japan vs. Sweden predicted lineups
Japan: Zion Suzuki; Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ko Itakura, Hiroki Ito; Ritsu Doan, Kaishu Sano, Ao Tanaka, Keito Nakamura; Junya Ito, Daichi Kamada; Ayase Ueda
Sweden: Kristoffer Nordfeldt; Gustaf Largerbielke, Isak Hien, Victor Lindelof; Alexander Bernhardsson, Jesper Karlstrom, Benjamin Nygren, Yasin Ayari, Gabriel Gudmundsson; Viktor Gyokeres, Alexander Isak
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Japan vs. Sweden pick, prediction
This is one of those fiddly group stage games where we don't really know how much weight to put on the fact that a draw suits both teams pretty fine all told. Given that the Netherlands are probably going to beat Tunisia and beat them well, it might be that there's nothing Japan can do but conserve energy and take the draw. Pick: Japan 0, Sweden 0
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