Sweden coach Graham Potter has challenged his players to deliver a much stronger defensive performance against Japan after a damaging defeat to the Netherlands left their World Cup qualification hopes hanging in the balance.
Sweden will face Japan on Thursday in a decisive Group F encounter knowing that anything less than a positive result could jeopardize their chances of reaching the last 32. The Scandinavian side sits third in the standings with three points, one behind both group leaders Japan and the Netherlands.
The pressure intensified following Sweden’s dramatic reversal of fortunes in their opening two matches. After beginning the tournament with an impressive 5-1 victory over Tunisia, Potter’s team suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat against the Netherlands last Saturday, exposing defensive weaknesses that the coach acknowledged must be addressed immediately.
“We can’t defend in the way that we did, we have to improve that situation,” Potter told reporters ahead of the match.
The former Chelsea and Brighton manager said Japan presents a particularly difficult challenge because of its versatility in attack and ability to create danger from multiple areas of the field.
“Japan are strong on the wings and they’re strong through the middle as well, so we meet a very good team and we have to make sure that we are better than we were in that respect,” Potter said.
Japan arrives in Dallas as one of the surprise performers of the tournament. Hajime Moriyasu’s side remains unbeaten after recovering from deficits to earn a draw against the Netherlands before producing a dominant 4-0 victory over Tunisia, a result that eliminated the North African nation from contention.
The Japanese attack has impressed throughout the group stage. Daichi Kamada has found the net in both matches, while striker Ayase Ueda delivered one of the standout performances of the tournament against Tunisia, scoring twice and creating another goal in a comprehensive display.
Despite those individual contributions, Potter believes Japan’s greatest strength lies in its collective organization rather than any single player.
“Whoever plays offers a threat, it’s not about individuals with the Japanese team,” he said.
“I think their biggest strength is collectively. You don’t know who’s going to play, you can’t second-guess their position. They have a collective threat in attack, a collective defence and that’s something we have to be very, very aware of.”
Sweden, however, possesses attacking weapons of its own. Much of the team’s hopes will rest on forwards Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres, who remain among the most recognizable names in the squad.
Gyokeres arrives at the tournament after helping Arsenal win the Premier League title in his first season with the London club, while Isak endured an injury-disrupted campaign following his high-profile transfer to Liverpool. Despite those setbacks, Potter remains confident in the quality both players can provide on the international stage.
“I don’t think it will be fear, I think it’s respect,” Potter said when asked about Japan’s defenders facing his star forwards.
“Respect for what they’ve achieved, in terms of one has won the Premier League and one has had a great career and a big move to a top team.”
“Although the season he has had has been disrupted by injury, Alex is still a top, top player,” he added.
The match carries significant implications for both nations. A victory would almost certainly secure Japan’s place in the knockout rounds and potentially leave them in position to win the group. Sweden, meanwhile, needs a result to avoid entering the final round of group matches under severe pressure.
With the Netherlands also competing for qualification, Group F remains one of the most competitive sections of the tournament. Sweden’s ability to recover from its defensive collapse against the Dutch may ultimately determine whether Potter’s side continues its World Cup journey or faces an early exit.
For Potter, the equation is straightforward. Sweden must rediscover the balance and discipline that produced its opening victory while finding a way to contain one of the tournament’s most cohesive teams. Failure to do so could bring an abrupt end to its hopes of advancing beyond the group stage.
