The Japan national team struggled in their match against Sweden on June 26. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, and Japan advanced to the knockout stage as the second-place team in Group F.

What went wrong for Japan

Japan struggled with Sweden's tactics. Sweden used long balls from the goalkeeper to neutralize Japan's high press.

Sweden's tactics

Sweden used a 3-top formation to attack Japan's 3-back defense. The strong trio of Elanga, Gyökeres, and Isak forced Japan's 3-back defense to defend one-on-one, which disrupted Japan's defense.

Key takeaways for the Brazil game

Japan identified key areas for improvement ahead of the Brazil game. The team needs to work on their pressing, defensive organization, and side defense. Japan's recent form has been strong, with 3 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss in their last 5 games, and they are currently on a 3-game winning streak, including a 3-0 win over Bolivia on November 18, 2025. | Date | Opponent | Result | | --- | --- | --- | | November 18, 2025 | Bolivia | 3-0 |