World Cup Group F Preview: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden & Tunisia
Previewing every single World Cup group ahead of the tournament. In this episode, we look at Group F, featuring the Dutch powerhouse, the tactical Samurai Blue, a resurgent Sweden, and the formidable Tunisians.
Video Transcript
Previewing every single World Cup group ahead of the tournament this summer.
Group F, the Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, and Tunisia.
Is this nearly a group of death?
The Dutch are the favorites within this group, and have one of the strongest squads in their recent history.
Elite defensive and midfield starters give them an outstanding spine, but the attacking options, very much still led by Memphis Depay, could be Ronald Koeman's team's weak point.
Japan and Sweden will likely go head-to-head for second spot, and have had almost polar opposite routes to the tournament.
Japan wrapped up qualification early, and as a result, have rotated to an almost unprecedented level.
They've used over 65 players across their games in the past year, approximately double that of Thomas Tuchel and England.
Sweden didn't win any of their qualifying games, but topping their Nations League group granted them automatic qualification to the playoffs, which they won.
Graham Potter is back in his spiritual home, and they have a golden generation of talent, which is perhaps surprising following the Zlatan Ibrahimovi-led era.
Although, Dejan Kulusevski is a big miss.
Tunisia won 9 out of 10 in qualifying, and didn't concede a single goal throughout.
They are rock solid.
This group consists of some incredibly organized and sophisticated teams.
The standard is very high.
One player to watch from each team, Donyell Malen of the Netherlands, Daichi Kamada, obviously, of Japan, Lucas Bergvall of Sweden, and Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane of Tunisia.
