“We have to improve that situation:” Potter Fires Warning At Sweden Ahead of Japan Clash
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Potter Urges Better Defensive Performance From Sweden in Group F Finale
Group F at the 2026 World Cup has been one of the most thrilling, with the Netherlands, Japan and Sweden all still in the running to secure a top two finish and automatic entry to the Round of 32 as we head into the final round of matches tonight.
As discussed in our Japan vs Sweden prediction, the Samurai Blue and the Blue and Yellows are set to meet at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas in a winner-takes-all showdown, with just a single point separating the teams heading into this crucial match.
Ahead of the blockbuster clash, Sweden head coach Graham Potter has issued a clear warning to his team against having another poor defensive display after suffering a crushing 5-1 defeat to the Dutch last Saturday in Houston. In his pre-match press conference, Potter said:
“We can’t defend in the way that we did, we have to improve that situation. Japan are strong on the wings, and they’re strong through the middle as well, so we meet a very good team, and we have to make sure that we are better than we were in that respect.”
Japan have yet to lose a match in this competition, having battled back from a goal down to earn a point against the Netherlands in their opening match before smashing four unanswered goals past Tunisia to send the African nation crashing out of the tournament. Potter added:
"Whoever plays offers a threat, it's not about individuals with the Japanese team. I think their biggest strength is collectively. You don't know who's going to play, you can't second-guess their position. They have a collective threat in attack, a collective defence and that's something we have to be very, very aware of."
While the Samurai Blue are the favourites in tonight’s contest, Sweden carries a solid attacking threat of their own in Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres, both of whom made high-profile moves last summer, with the latter helping Arsenal bring an end to their 22-year wait for a Premier League title.
What Do Netherlands, Sweden and Japan Need to Qualify for Knockouts?
Our experts’ 2026 World Cup predictions show that the Netherlands are best-placed to progress to the Round of 32 from Group F, as they enter the final day top of the standings on goal scored and are set to face Tunisia, who have already been eliminated.
Japan have a solid four-goal advantage over Sweden heading into the clash in Dallas. Avoiding defeat will be enough for the Samurai Blue to claim a top-two finish, while anything other than a shockingly heavy defeat should be enough to get them through as one of the best third-placed teams.
For Sweden, three points would seal their qualification, and even a draw should be sufficient to keep their World Cup campaign alive. However, a loss means Potter’s men would face an uncomfortable wait to find out if their record stacks up favourably against the tournament’s other third-placed finishers.
2026 World Cup: Standings Ahead of Group F Finale
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Netherlands | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| 2 | Japan | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| 3 | Sweden | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | Tunisia (Eliminated) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9 | −8 | 0 |
