AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AFP) — Japan is the revelation of the Women’s World Cup but it must brace for the ultimate clash of styles when it faces Sweden in the quarterfinals at Eden Park on Friday.
The only side left in the tournament that have won the World Cup before, 2011 champion Japan had surged into the Last Eight with 14 goals scored in four games and one conceded.
One of the few teams to have lined up with three center-backs, they have been devastating on the counterattack, surgical with their passing in behind the opposition defense and clinical in the final third.
In Hinata Miyazawa, they have the leader in the race for the golden boot with five goals.
Sweden had built its success on a solid defense that has also let in just one goal, in their opening game against South Africa.
Physically they are a handful for opponents and they are particularly dangerous at set-pieces.
Zecira Musovic, meanwhile, produced arguably the best performance of any goalkeeper at the competition as Sweden eliminated holder the United States on penalties in the Last 16.
“This won’t be like the physical game we had against the USA. It will be a lot more technical and fast-paced,” Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson told reporters on the eve of the match in Auckland.
“When we get possession, we will need to move the ball quickly and make the most of our physical advantage.”
The most striking difference between the teams is in that physicality.
The average height of the Sweden side that started against the US was six centimeters (more than two inches) taller than the Japan team which lined up for their 3-1 win over Norway in the last round.
Amanda Ilestedt, the center-back who has scored three goals so far, and Barcelona forward Fridolina Rolfo both tower over any Japanese player at 5-foot-10 tall.
If Sweden is physical, Japan’s approach is anything but not.
They have conceded just 20 fouls in total, fewer than any other team left in the tournament, and have not picked up a single yellow or red card.
Sweden had given away 58 fouls, more than anyone else.
“They are fast, very aggressive and tall, so we have to be prepared to deal with that first and foremost,” Japan coach Futoshi Ikeda.
The teams met in the semifinals of the 2011 World Cup in Germany, with Japan coming from behind to triumph 3-1 on the way to lifting the trophy.
Of more relevance, however, might be their encounter at the Tokyo Olympics two years ago, which Sweden won 3-1 before going on to lose the gold medal match on penalties to Canada.
“The Japanese have really refined parts of their game since then, especially their counter-attack. Now they are very quick and whenever they get the chance to go forward, they do so,” Sweden’s defensive stalwart Magdalena Eriksson said.
“At the time, in Tokyo, they were more about possession, so now they have added that dimension to their game.”
Eriksson, who recently joined Bayern Munich from Chelsea, was quizzed about how she and her central defensive partner Ilestedt would stop Miyazawa from adding to her goals tally.
