Japan and Sweden move on after Maeda and Elanga trade decisive goals

Japan and Sweden both progressed from their World Cup group after a draw in Dallas. Daizen Maeda put Japan ahead after a sharp attacking move, before Anthony Elanga’s powerful strike brought Sweden level.

The result suited both sides’ tournament needs. Japan are reported to have sealed the runners-up position and a last-32 meeting with Brazil in Houston, while Sweden’s point was enough for third place, though their next opponent remained tied to wider knockout-round permutations.

For Japan, the most encouraging moment was the construction of Maeda’s goal, with Ritsu Doan and Ayase Ueda involved in a move that reflected Hajime Moriyasu’s side at their most precise. Sweden, meanwhile, found a response through Elanga, whose equaliser arrived at a point when Graham Potter’s team could not afford the game to drift away.

There were also selection and fitness notes for editors to verify, including the reported withdrawal of Sweden centre-back Isak Hein after appearing to clutch his hamstring, and Ko Itakura’s replacement by Shogo Taniguchi. The broader takeaway is that both teams survived the group stage, but their routes into the knockout phase may feel very different.