Former Japan Players Warn of Sweden's Challenge in World Cup Group Stage

Former Japan national team players Masahiro Maesono, Ryuzo Morioka, Masami Ihara, and Hiroyuki Ota discussed Japan's upcoming World Cup group stage match against Sweden on the YouTube channel "Ojiisan dakedo, asonde mo ii desu ka?" The four expressed concerns about facing Sweden, with Ihara declaring Sweden the "most difficult opponent" and Morioka saying "I don't like it."

Japan currently sits in Group F alongside the Netherlands, Tunisia, and Sweden. After drawing 2–2 with the Netherlands on June 15, Japan faces Sweden on June 26 and needs to secure points to advance from the group. The former players emphasized the tactical challenge posed by Sweden's style of play.

Sweden employs a defensive approach with minimal ball possession, typically maintaining possession rates between 30 and 40 percent. The team relies on long ball tactics to feed forwards with exceptional individual quality, including Gyökeres (Arsenal), Isak (Liverpool), and Elanga (Newcastle). Morioka noted that Sweden's qualification through the European playoffs has boosted their morale. Ihara explained that Sweden's direct, power-play style is particularly problematic for Japan because it prevents pressing from the front and relies on simple, effective passing chains. Ota highlighted the striking quality of Sweden's forwards, describing their individual ability as "exceptionally high."

Morioka stressed the psychological burden on Japan, saying the prospect of needing to win on matchday three against such talent is "unpleasant." Maesono reinforced the importance of securing points before facing Sweden, calling the situation "truly frightening" given Sweden's attacking firepower. The players' assessment underscores the difficulty Japan faces in Group F, where early point accumulation is critical for progressing to the knockout stage.