PREVIEW: Japan and Sweden face off in crunch clash with Group F top spot at stake | OneFootball

Japan and Sweden will face off in a mouthwatering Group F matchup at Arlington, Texas’ AT&T Stadium on Friday morning, with both sides seeking to secure top spot.

Barring any disasters, both nations should be through, with Sweden sitting third with three points on a goal difference of zero and Japan amassing four points with a +4 differential.

But with the Netherlands themselves only topping the group on goals scored, the two countries will be aware that leapfrogging Ronald Koeman’s side is a genuine possibility – albeit one that is much more realistic for Japan.

For the Samurai Blue, the equation is simple. Beat Sweden by a bigger margin than the Dutch beat Tunisia, and they secure first place at the Oranje’s expense.

For Graham Potter’s men, though, the route to the top is far more complicated. In order to leapfrog both tonight’s opponents and Ronald Koeman’s side they need to get the better of Japan and hope Tunisia spring a shock in the other game, but such a feat looks extremely unlikely.

Hervé Renard’s men have conceded a total of nine goals against both the Swedes and their Japanese adversaries, and are still reeling from the sacking of Sabri Lamouchi after a 5-1 thumping against the Scandinavians in their opening match.

In terms of head-to-head record, there is – rather appropriately, given the context – little to separate these two, with Sweden triumphing once from four clashes and their other three encounters ending in draws.

The last time they faced off, however, was in a 2002 friendly just a month out from Japan co-hosting football’s showpiece event with South Korea, a time where the East Asians were far from the perennial ‘dark horses’ they are regarded as now.

Unsurprisingly that fixture ended in a draw, but having reached the knockout stages in both Russia and Qatar the Samurai Blue will be confident of besting tomorrow’s opponents this time around. If that is to happen then Ayase Ueda will be integral, with the Feyenoord forward surely set to start after pilfering two goals and an assist in his country’s previous game against Tunisia.

Daichi Kamada also found the net in that match, and will be similarly guaranteed to feature having emerged as one of boss Hajime Moriyasu’s key players thanks to fruitful spells at Frankfurt and Crystal Palace.

And Genk’s Junya Ito, as well as Keito Nakamura of Reims will consider themselves unlucky should they miss out after scoring and assisting respectively against the North Africans and excelling at club level. Ito notched 11 goal contributions in the Belgian league, whilst Nakamura’s 14 Ligue 1 strikes helped his side finish sixth.

Despite such optimism Liverpool’s Wataru Endo and Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo will be notable absences, with both players sidelined through injury. Kubo in particular could be a massive miss having picked up an assist against the Netherlands, and been expected to lead the line for Moriyasu’s side prior to the tournament starting.

Sweden, meanwhile, will be keen to bounce back following a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of the Clockwork Orange in their second game. Alexander Isak and Victor Gyökeres are expected to lead the line as the Blågult’s main men, and Anthony Elanga will also fancy his chances after making the scoresheet against the Dutch.

As will Yasin Ayari, whose energetic performance was one of the Swedes’ only highlights in an otherwise torrid afternoon.

Victor Lindelöf can count himself fortunate he’ll be starting as captain after underperforming in a dire collective defensive display that day, whilst Isak Hein’s place could be at risk after struggling against the Oranje.

Japan vs Sweden kicks off at midnight on Friday 26 June, with coverage available on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website

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