During Friday at 09:30, Swedish time, the Swedish women’s national team meets Japan in the World Cup, after a real thrilling match against the USA where Sweden went on after penalties. And the quarter-finals look to be tough.
– Sweden are tipped for defeat against Japan, who went very strong in the WC, 14-1 in the four games, and impressed everyone the most. It was a great game against the USA but it wasn’t a great game, Sweden has to step up, says Olof Lundh, columnist Fotbollskanalen, in Nyhetsmorgon.
Japan “a chameleon”
He believes that more than Zećira Mušović must play at a higher level for Sweden to upset Japan and advance to a semi-final against Spain, who beat the Netherlands on Friday morning.
– We face a chameleon, a team with many guises. They can change from low to high and vice versa, agrees Max Grindal, sports reporter TV4, who together with Lundh is on site in Auckland, New Zealand, before the match.
Sweden’s advantage against Japan
Japan is a fantastic national team, says Lundh. And despite Sweden beating them in the Olympics two years ago, it’s a different team we face today. Japan got a new national team captain, Futoshi Ikeda, who now leads a tight team that will put pressure on Sweden in the quarter-finals, says Olof Lundh:
– Most people expect that Japan will have the ball and Sweden will have to lie on it. Then a little physics is required, and perhaps take advantage of the fact that you are 6-7 centimeters taller on average. And corners have been good, but it is important to get to the corners against Japan.
So Sweden starts against Japan
Zecira Musovic – Nathalie Björn, Amanda Ilestedt, Magdalena Eriksson, Jonna Andersson – Filippa Angeldahl, Elin Rubensson – Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Kosovare Asllani (K), Fridolina Rolfö – Stina Blackstenius