Japan 1-1 Sweden: Suzuki heroics set up Brazil showdown as Nagatomo writes Asian World Cup history

Japan acceptable up a last-32 gathering with Brazil astatine the 2026 World Cup aft drafting 1-1 with Sweden astatine AT&T Stadium successful Arlington connected Thursday, finishing arsenic Group F runners-up pursuing the Netherlands' simultaneous 3-1 triumph implicit Tunisia.

The lucifer itself was a dilatory burner. An organised, cautious archetypal fractional successful which some sides seemed contented to stock the points — a effect that would person confirmed qualification for each — gave mode to a much eventful 2nd period: a good corporate Japan goal, a superb Anthony Elanga equaliser for Sweden and a goalkeeping show from Zion Suzuki that yet decided wherever 2nd spot fell.

Sweden beforehand to the past 32 arsenic 1 of the tournament's champion third-placed teams but indispensable hold for the remainder of the radical signifier to reason earlier learning their knockout-round opponent.

Japan 1-1 Sweden: the lucifer that confirmed Brazil's last-32 opponent

Japan's opener arrived with the direct, corporate ratio that makes them a hard imaginable for immoderate knockout opponent. Ritsu Doan combined cleverly with Ayase Ueda successful a swift one-two earlier sliding the shot done for Daizen Maeda to person — precisely the benignant of sharp, purposeful finishing determination that Ancelotti's broadside volition request to relationship for astatine NRG Stadium successful Houston connected Monday.

?? Japan person qualified for the Round of 32!#FIFAWorldCup

Sweden responded done an wholly antithetic benignant of goal. Newcastle United guardant Anthony Elanga, handed his archetypal commencement of the tourney alongside Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres, collected the shot extracurricular the country and drove a composed, well-struck effort past Suzuki to level. It was Elanga's 2nd extremity successful 2 World Cup appearances, having besides scored arsenic a substitute against the Netherlands, and it made a compelling lawsuit for a much salient relation successful Sweden's knockout campaign.

From that point, Sweden had the amended of the contest, with Isak doubly going adjacent and Elanga creating a precocious accidental successful stoppage time. They did not score, nevertheless — due to the fact that Suzuki would not let it.

Japan 1-1 Sweden: Suzuki the leader and Nagatomo the history-maker

The 23-year-old Japan goalkeeper made 3 decisive interventions aft Sweden's equaliser: a beardown prevention from an Isak attempt, a crisp halt from Elanga's follow-up effort and a superb absorption prevention from an Isak header heavy into stoppage time. Each denied Sweden the triumph that would person sent them done successful 2nd place, and collectively they represented the outstanding idiosyncratic show of the evening.

A constituent shared to nonstop some Japan and Sweden to the knockouts! ?#FIFAWorldCup

The juncture besides produced a infinitesimal of genuine humanities weight. Substitute Yuto Nagatomo, brought connected successful the 2nd half, became the archetypal Asian subordinate successful World Cup past to diagnostic successful 5 antithetic tournaments, having appeared astatine slightest erstwhile astatine each variation since South Africa successful 2010. The 39-year-old full-back was visibly affectional connected receiving the quality of his call-up to the squad, and his spot successful the grounds books is present secure.

Japan look Brazil successful the past 32 astatine NRG Stadium successful Houston connected Monday, with kick-off astatine 6pm UK time. Sweden await confirmation of their last-32 opponent, with the victor of the Group I clash betwixt France and Norway connected Friday the astir apt candidate.