Japan and Sweden both got what they needed, but Japan probably leave this one feeling they should have won it. A 1-1 draw sent both sides into the knockouts and gave us two very different R32 fantasy profiles.
Daizen Maeda finished a lovely Japan move, Anthony Elanga answered with a brilliant strike, and the game opened up just enough after half-time to remind us both teams still have knockout danger.
Here are the Demon Notes from Japan 1-1 Sweden: Maeda value, Elanga spark, Isak threat, Japan's Brazil problem and Sweden's brutal France route.
Japan 1-1 Sweden
- Goals: Daizen Maeda; Anthony Elanga
- Key story: Japan finished second in Group F and Sweden qualified from third in the current snapshot
- Current projected R32 routes: Japan v Brazil; Sweden v France (both provisional)
- Demon route model: Japan 38% advance, 38% Shield; Sweden 28% advance, 32% Shield
- Fantasy story: Japan have good players, but the Brazil route is not friendly
Team Stats
Player Stats
| Player | Pos | Price | Output | Match stats | Fantasy verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daizen Maeda | FWD | 5.9m | Goal | Finished Japan's best move and kept his R32 case alive | Good player, bad Brazil route |
| Anthony Elanga | MID | 5.5m | Goal | Levelled with a long-range hit and gave Sweden direct threat | Punt only; France route is ugly |
| Alexander Isak | FWD | 8.0m | Blank | Late header forced a big Suzuki save | Quality pick, poor R32 route |
| Zion Suzuki | GK | 4.3m | Key save | Helped Japan hold the draw late | Avoid for Shield v Brazil |
| Kaoru Mitoma | MID | 7.2m | Threat | Still Japan's main fantasy ceiling route | Hard to buy before Brazil |
| Lucas Bergvall | MID | 5.1m | Bench/low role | Limited fantasy role so far | Avoid |
Qualification And Round Of 32 Angle
Japan are through, but the current provisional R32 snapshot gives them Brazil. Demon has Japan at 38% to advance and 38% Clean Sheet Shield, so this is more of an avoid route than a buy route.
Sweden are also alive, but France is even worse. Demon has Sweden at 28% to advance and 32% Shield, which keeps Isak and Elanga as brave punts rather than sensible booster picks.
Verdict: good teams, awkward fantasy routes. Japan and Sweden are not core R32 chip teams in this bracket.