{"id":1463501,"date":"2026-06-26T03:17:47","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T02:17:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=features&#038;p=1463501"},"modified":"2026-06-26T03:19:06","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T02:19:06","slug":"post-match-analysis-japan-vs-sweden-26-06-26","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/post-match-analysis-japan-vs-sweden-26-06-26\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan vs Sweden stats and analysis: Samurai Blues&#8217; fluid rotations and Elanga saves Sweden"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Japan and Sweden drew 1-1 in their final game of Group F, as both sides secured their spots in the final 32 of the competition.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first half was fairly uneventful, with both teams playing in a more passive manner, only taking six shots between them and generating 0.28 expected goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Japan were the first to strike after the halftime break though, with a lovely piece of interplay between the front three leading to Daizen Maeda&#8217;s opener.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sweden burst into life from that point onwards, getting a goal just six minutes later through Anthony Elanga to level it up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Graham Potter&#8217;s side took more control in the second half after the goal, which nuliffed the threat of Japan and allowed them to secure the point they needed to progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>In this article, we&#8217;ll cover<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-japan-s-5-2-3-midblock\" data-level=\"2\">Japan&#8217;s 5-2-3 midblock<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-sweden-dribbles-beat-directness\" data-level=\"2\">Sweden dribbles beat directness<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-japan-s-fluid-rotations\" data-level=\"2\">Japan&#8217;s fluid rotations<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-a-point-serves-all\" data-level=\"2\">A point serves all<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-japan-s-5-2-3-midblock\">Japan&#8217;s 5-2-3 midblock<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Hajime Moriyasu&#8217;s Japan side are extremely well coached out of possession, setting up in their 5-2-3 defensive shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is an active and aggressive midblock, Japan also have clear references to jump out and force teams backwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021057\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-3-1024x576.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1463530\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021057\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-3-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021057\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-3-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021057\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-3-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021057\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-3-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021057\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-3-2048x1152.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021057\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-3-400x225.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021057\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-3-356x200.jpeg 356w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021057\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-3-107x60.jpeg 107w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021057\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-3-150x84.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021057\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-3-132x74.jpeg 132w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Ritsu Doan, Ayase Ueda and Maeda set up as the front three to screen central access, while also looking to pressure the Sweden front three on the ball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ao Tanaka and Daichi Kamada then protected the middle incase access was found, ready to jump and apply pressure if the ball came through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26022238\/team_-average-positions-2-10-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1463547\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26022238\/team_-average-positions-2-10-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26022238\/team_-average-positions-2-10-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26022238\/team_-average-positions-2-10-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26022238\/team_-average-positions-2-10-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26022238\/team_-average-positions-2-10-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26022238\/team_-average-positions-2-10-267x267.jpg 267w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26022238\/team_-average-positions-2-10-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26022238\/team_-average-positions-2-10-60x60.jpg 60w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26022238\/team_-average-positions-2-10-74x74.jpg 74w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26022238\/team_-average-positions-2-10.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The wing-backs had easier matchups as they were up against Sweden in a similar shape, following the opposition wing-backs if they went low or high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Japan&#8217;s backline do a brilliant job of backing up the press when they jump out, keeping space tight between the lines but also retreating to cover depth runs.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2>Betano Offer - Bet \u00a310 Get \u00a310 + a \u00a31 casino bonus for every goal scored in the first weekend of the EPL<\/h2>\r\n<ol>\r\n<li>Sign up at Betano using <strong><a href=\"\/en\/go\/betano?q=gb-all-spt-bst-s-spo\">this link<\/a><\/strong> or clicking the image 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Opt in, deposit and bet \u00a310 on EPL Markets (odds 1\/1+) by 19:00 on 15.08.2025. Get \u00a310 in sports free bets + \u00a31 Slots bonus on selected games for every goal scored in the first weekend of the EPL, up to \u00a330 in bonuses. 40x wagering, max redeemable \u00a3750. Bonuses expire in 7 days. Scroll down for T&amp;Cs. GambleAware.org.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-sweden-dribbles-beat-directness\">Sweden dribbles beat directness<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sweden found it difficult to build through Japan&#8217;s defensive shape, with anything being played inside the block pressured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This saw Potter&#8217;s side looking to play over the front press, by attracting the front three forwards, before going backwards to launch it forwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres and Anthony Elanga were there to contest long balls, with Gyokeres getting himself in a few feisty tussles throughout the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, despite Gyokeres winning a fair few of these contested balls into the front line, Sweden were unable enough bodies around the second ball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26022158\/team_-average-positions-2-9-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1463546\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26022158\/team_-average-positions-2-9-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26022158\/team_-average-positions-2-9-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26022158\/team_-average-positions-2-9-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26022158\/team_-average-positions-2-9-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26022158\/team_-average-positions-2-9-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26022158\/team_-average-positions-2-9-267x267.jpg 267w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26022158\/team_-average-positions-2-9-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26022158\/team_-average-positions-2-9-60x60.jpg 60w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26022158\/team_-average-positions-2-9-74x74.jpg 74w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26022158\/team_-average-positions-2-9.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead, it was a carry that broke Japan&#8217;s defensive shape rather than a long ball, as Gabriel Gudmundsson initially made a move ahead of the ball, creating space between the front three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Victor Lindelof was then able to carry it inside the block, collapsing their shape and finding Gyokeres who found Elanga out wide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gyokeres making an underlapping run allowed Elanga to cut inside, curling it into the far left bottom corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-japan-s-fluid-rotations\">Japan&#8217;s fluid rotations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On the ball, Japan set up in their usual 3-2-5 shape in possession, but a few of their rotations were interesting to bypass and manipulate the Sweden press.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The wide centre-backs for Japan were splitting extremely wide, looking to stretch the front three of Sweden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tanaka was then dropping into the backline, creating a +1 against the Sweden front three, while Daichi Kamada floated between high and low positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021045\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-1-1024x576.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1463528\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021045\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-1-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021045\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-1-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021045\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-1-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021045\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-1-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021045\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-1-2048x1152.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021045\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-1-400x225.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021045\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-1-356x200.jpeg 356w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021045\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-1-107x60.jpeg 107w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021045\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-1-150x84.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021045\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-1-132x74.jpeg 132w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Japan&#8217;s front five have a sense of fluidity to their movement, with all five players being comfortable switching attacking channels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not only can they interchange positions, but all five are willing runners and comfortable with the ball to feet, giving them an unpredictability with their variety of movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021051\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-2-1024x576.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1463529\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021051\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-2-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021051\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-2-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021051\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-2-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021051\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-2-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021051\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-2-2048x1152.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021051\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-2-400x225.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021051\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-2-356x200.jpeg 356w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021051\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-2-107x60.jpeg 107w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021051\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-2-150x84.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26021051\/Pitchshot-JPN-v-SWE-2-132x74.jpeg 132w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This was in full flow for Japan&#8217;s goal, as Yukinari Sugawara picked up the ball in a wide position to start the move off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the same time, Ritsu Doan found himself dropping from a centre-forward position into the right pocket, while Ayase Ueda made the counter movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sugawara made an inside diagonal pass to Doan, allowing him to spin it into the feet of Ueda first time, using him as a bounce board for the give and go to find separation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The second Doan made the inside movement to receive it back, Maeda made his run from deep into the space behind Sweden&#8217;s backline, receiving the ball and applying the finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-a-point-serves-all\">A point serves all<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Towards the back end of the game, after the Sweden equaliser, Potter&#8217;s side were able to effectivley take some sting out of the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both sides knew a point was enough to secure qualification to the next round, with Japan finishing second on five points and Sweden finishing third on four points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While both sides had a few more direct balls forward, earning set-pieces and looking to generate danger that way, neither side over extended, going back to the pattern in the first half of their more pragmatic approaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Japan continue to look like true dark horse contenders in this competition, while Sweden will be hoping they can find a little more in the later rounds.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3><strong>Read more:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/world-cup-2026-betting-tips-predictions\/\"><strong>World Cup predictions &amp; tips<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/outright-markets\/world-cup-outright-odds\/\"><strong>World Cup outright odds <\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/world-cup-2026-fixtures-results\/\"><b>World Cup fixtures &amp; results<\/b><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/world-cup-2026-betting-offers\/\"><b>World Cup free bets<\/b><\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Japan and Sweden drew 1-1 in their final game of Group F, as both sides secured their spots in the final 32 of the competition. The first half was fairly uneventful, with both teams playing in a more passive manner, only taking six shots between them and generating 0.28 expected goals. Japan were the first&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3107,"featured_media":1463521,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"features-category":[],"squawka-category":[27631],"class_list":["post-1463501","features","type-features","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","squawka-category-world-cup"],"acf":{"external_featured_image_url":"","hide_featured_image_pattern":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Japan vs Sweden stats and analysis: Samurai Blues&#039; fluid rotations and Elanga saves Sweden | Squawka | EN<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/post-match-analysis-japan-vs-sweden-26-06-26\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Japan vs Sweden stats and analysis: Samurai Blues&#039; fluid rotations and Elanga saves Sweden\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Japan and Sweden drew 1-1 in their final game of Group F, as both sides secured their spots in the final 32 of the competition. The first half was fairly uneventful, with both teams playing in a more passive manner, only taking six shots between them and generating 0.28 expected goals. 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