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World Cup: Japan and Sweden clash for top-two spot in Group F
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- World Cup: Japan and Sweden clash for top-two spot in Group F
World Cup: Japan and Sweden clash for top-two spot in Group F
Japan and Sweden will lock horns with hopes of automatic qualification from Group F at the 2026 World Cup. The Scandinavians had contrasting fortunes in their opening games as their impressive 5-1 victory over Tunisia was followed by a defeat of the same scoreline to the Netherlands .
Meanwhile, Japan were on the right end of a four-goal margin when they reached four points with a convincing performance against Tunisia. Hiroki Ito ( FC Bayern ) and Ritsu Doan ( Eintracht Frankfurt ) keep their places in the starting lineup, while Werder Bremen 's loanee Yukinari Sugawara gets his first start of the tournament.
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Holstein Kiel's Alexander Bernhardsson also maintained his spot in Sweden's star-studded lineup. Several Bundesliga players are among the substitutes named on either side.
Confirmed Sweden vs. Japan Lineups
Sweden XI:Zetterström; Lagerbielke , Lindelöf ©, Hien ; Bernhardsson, Stroud, Ayari , Gudmundsson ; Elanga ; Isak , Gyökeres
Japan XI:Suzuki; Seko, Itakura ©, Itō; Sugawara, Tanaka, Kamada , Nakamura ; Maeda, Doan; Ueda
