Japan vs Sweden – Quarter-Final – Preview & Prediction | 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup
THE FACTS
When is Japan vs Sweden on and what time does it start? Japan vs Sweden will take place on Friday 11th August, 2023 – 08:30 (UK)
Where is Japan vs Sweden taking place? Japan vs Sweden will take place at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.
Where can I get tickets for Japan vs Sweden? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Japan vs Sweden
What channel is Japan vs Sweden on in the UK? Japan vs Sweden will be televised live on BBC One
Where can I stream Japan vs Sweden in the UK? Japan vs Sweden can be streamed on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website
THE LOWDOWN
JAPAN
- Although Japan conceded their first goal in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in the Round of 16 stage, they extended their goals scored tally to 14 as the 2011 world champions overcame Norway by three goals to one in Wellington.
- Only one of Japan’s four matches played at the tournament so far has seen them find the net less than three times and in Hinata Miyazawa, they boast a player who currently leads the race for the golden boot with five goals to her name.
SWEDEN
- Sweden have successfully made it to a seventh Women’s World Cup quarter-final and they did so in the most dramatic of fashions, beating back-to-back world champions United States on penalties after a 0-0 draw in 120 minutes of football.
- Such a magnificent effort will have no doubt taken a huge toll on the Swedish players both physically and mentally, so head coach Peter Gerhardsson and his staff have a big job on their hands ensuring everyone is fit enough to go again here, with Filippa Angeldal a notable doubt having limped off in extra time
THE TEAM NEWS
JAPAN
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Yamashita; Takahashi, Kumagai, Minami; Shimizu, Hasegawa, Nagano, Endo; Fujino, Tanaka, Miyazawa
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
SWEDEN
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Musovic; Bjorn, Ilestedt, Eriksson, Andersson; Angeldal, Rubensson; Kaneryd, Asllani, Rolfo; Blackstenius
UNAVAILABLE: Glas (Injured), Lundkvist (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Angeldal (Fitness)
THE KEY STATS
- This is the fourth time these two nations have met in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Sweden recorded wins of 8-0 and 2-0 in the group stage in 1991 and 1995 respectively. More recently Japan won 3-1 in the semi-finals in 2011 on their way to winning the title.
- Overall, this is their 15th meeting, with Sweden boasting a slender lead on the head-to-head record with six wins to Japan’s five, courtesy of a 3-1 victory in their last encounter in the quarter-finals of the 2020 Olympics.
- Japan have won eight of their last ten FIFA Women’s World Cup matches against European teams (W8 L2).
- Japan’s total of 14 goals at the 2023 finals is their best tally in a single edition, bettering the total of 12 which they recorded in 2011.
- A goal for Hinata Miyazawa would see her become the first player to score in three successive FIFA Women’s World Cup matches for Japan.
- Sweden have been successful in four of their previous six FIFA Women’s World Cup quarter-final ties, including each of the last three. They defeated Germany 2-1 at this stage of the competition in 2019.
- Sweden have won six and drawn one of their last eight FIFA Women’s World Cup matches (W6 D1 L1).
- Sweden have won eight and drawn two of their previous 12 FIFA Women’s World Cup matches against AFC teams (W8 D2 L2).
- Sweden have not conceded a goal in their last three FIFA Women’s World Cup matches. The only previous time they have recorded three clean sheets in a row was in the inaugural edition in 1991.
- An appearance for Caroline Seger would be her 21st in the competition, seeing her become the outright record holder for Sweden in FIFA Women’s World Cup matches played. She is current level with Hedvig Lindahl.
THE PREDICTION
The irresistible force meets the immovable object in this quarter-final encounter as Japan with Miyazawa at their disposal along with all their other world class attacking players, take on a Swedish unit brimming with confidence and riding the crest of a wave after shutting down another offensive juggernaut in the United States last time out. Japan will no doubt be aware that patience may be the name of the game here with Sweden so well-drilled and tactically switched on in and out of possession, but their performances have been so good across the tournament so far, that it’s hard to see them not breaking through Sweden eventually if they are at their best. The big question for Sweden is whether they are capable of creating the goalscoring opportunities themselves to get past Japan, having recorded just one shot on target in the Round of 16. Although they may need extra time to get the job done, Japan are worth backing to narrowly advance through to the semi-finals.
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