Japan 0-0 Sweden

35’ – Sugawara flings in another cross. Hien goes down while stretching to intercept it and the defender looks in a reasonable amount of bother, enough to require medical attention.

Alan Smith26 June 2026 00:35

Japan 0-0 Sweden

32’ – Hien is booked for hauling Ueda down just inside the Sweden half as he breaks following a pass from Tanaka.

Alan Smith26 June 2026 00:32

Japan 0-0 Sweden

31’ – Right now this is only marginally more interesting than England 0-0 Ghana.

Alan Smith26 June 2026 00:29

Japan 0-0 Sweden

29’ – Elanga attempts to find Ayari but his pass is overhit a touch. Still, it’s a bit more proactive from Sweden.

Alan Smith26 June 2026 00:28

Japan 0-0 Sweden

27’ – We’ve restarted with a Sweden throw-in.

Alan Smith26 June 2026 00:27

Japan 0-0 Sweden

24’ – Time for a hydration break in an air-conditioned stadium. Boos ring out. Let’s hope the second quarter improves.

Alan Smith26 June 2026 00:24

Japan 0-0 Sweden

22’ – Maeda steers a header over having met a cross from the left.

Alan Smith26 June 2026 00:22

Japan 0-0 Sweden

20’ – Elliot Stroud, the son of an Englishman, is putting himself about in Sweden’s midfield – a combative present they seemed to miss before the Dutch game got away from them at the weekend.

Nakamura tries to thread a ball forward only for the alert Zetterstrom to smother.

Alan Smith26 June 2026 00:20

Japan 0-0 Sweden

17’ – Sugawara floats a ball in from the right which Zetterstrom claims under no pressure but it came at the end of a move in which Japan got some of those now familiar rotations in.

Alan Smith26 June 2026 00:17

Japan 0-0 Sweden

15’ – This one is yet to really take off. Japan are now going a little bit longer in the hope of getting past Sweden before they can reset into their low block following forays forward. It has not come off yet but the theory seems sound if Potter’s side will remain so intent on sitting back.

Alan Smith26 June 2026 00:15