Japan and Sweden Draw in World Cup Match, Both Teams Advance

It was a result that served everybody but, even though the mutual convenience of a draw became evident rapidly, at least this game conjured up two moments to cherish. Japan guaranteed the runners-up spot that always seemed likely to be theirs and will face Brazil in Houston on Monday; a point was enough for third-placed Sweden to run the gauntlet of some head-spinning round-of-32 permutations that could pair them with France or their local rivals Norway.

Graham Potter and Hajime Moriyasu could have been excused shaking on the outcome after a featureless first half. But this is Dallas, not Gijón; the crowd were served a marvellously-worked goal by Daizen Maeda, quickly cancelled out by Anthony Elanga’s spectacular long-range strike. Potter had wanted his team to manage the fine margins after Sweden’s wildly fluctuating start to the tournament and could, by the end, embrace his staff knowing the job was done.

Sweden had been bright enough going forward in losing to the Netherlands, which punctured the burgeoning optimism fostered by their similar win against Tunisia. The biggest problems were defensive and Potter needed the right balance this time. Elanga, who had scored their consolation in that rout, was one of three newcomers and Victor Lindelöf was enlisted with screening the backline.

Within a minute Elanga and the left wing-back Elliot Stroud, another granted his first World Cup start, had won corners. The assumption was they could not be shy against a team as well schooled and assertive as Japan, for whom the Celtic forward Maeda was recalled on the left. A smart move in the sixth minute saw Alexander Bernhardsson call Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki into action but the early exchanges, if open enough, were lukewarm.

They did not need to be much more once the Netherlands had stretched out into a quick, comfortable lead against Tunisia. Everyone would get broadly what they came for if the results held, give or take any question marks over the merits of facing Brazil so soon. In the meantime Elanga was chopped down crudely in full flight by Ao Tanaka, who somehow escaped a booking, and received further rough attention from Hiroki Ito. A header flashed off target by Maeda was the only other activity to raise pulses before the first hydration break.

The Sweden centre-back Isak Hein, heavily criticised back home after Brian Brobbey had bullied him in the Dutch stroll, now found a quicksilver foe in Ayase Ueda. He was less fortunate than Tanaka when clipping his opponent during a sharp break, receiving a yellow card. It would be his final contribution: in clearing a cross from the right he appeared to overstretch and stayed down clutching his hamstring. To the approval of Sweden’s vastly outnumbered following Potter chose Lucas Bergvall, who must have welcomed the shop window appearance, to take his place and Lindelöf reverted to a more familiar role.

Straight away the Japan defender Ko Itakura, less visibly ailing than Hien, jogged off to be replaced by Shogo Taniguchi. The action, such as it was, had slowed to a crawl but Keito Nakamura showed an appetite to entertain when placing a precise right-footed shot towards the left corner. It took a stretching stop from Jacob Widell Zetterström, the third and most eyebrow-raising of Potter’s changes, to keep Sweden feeling relatively secure at half-time.

That sensation did not last long. Japan deserve credit for re-emerging at a pace that immediately flustered Sweden. Tanaka blasted over and, after the ball had pinged around Sweden’s box, Widell Zetterstrom saved spectacularly from an offside Daichi Kamada. News of a short-lived Tunisian fightback in Kansas City ramped up the volume and the Maeda’s goal, when it came, was worked with a scalpel-like precision characteristic of Moriyasu’s side.

Ritsu Doan was architect in chief, playing a pass into Ueda that the centre-forward held up before returning his way. The subsequent first-time pass to Maeda, who had timed his run perfectly, was exquisite and the finish unerring.

Now Potter was in a tight spot. A single-goal defeat would probably not be terminal but further punishment would take Sweden to the brink. He was cheered within six minutes by a moment of brilliance from Elanga, who took possession on the right after Viktor Gyökeres had shuttled away from Tanaka. It was Gyokeres’s presence of mind, taking Tanaka further from the action with an unselfish run, that allowed Elanga to cut inside and take aim. The shot, from an ambitious angle, swerved devilishly and Suzuki appeared to see it late as it bent around him.

For Sweden the timing was perfect and, after that burst of genuinely high-class activity, the question was whether anyone fancied doing it all again. Alexander Isak, previously quiet, seized on loose defending to force a parry round the post from Suzuki and now Potter’s team were forcing the pace. Elanga worked Suzuki again and, from an added-time corner, Isak’s flicked header tested his reflexes further. Ultimately, though, the draw was no disgrace to anyone.