Japan Women v Sweden Women

Japan Women vs Sweden Women Preview

Japan will be bidding for a fifth win on the trot in this World Cup when they come up against Sweden in the second of the four quarter-finals in this competition at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday night but standing in their way are the side that dumped the tournament's favourites, USA.

Japan finished top of Group C after achieving a 100% winning record in the group stage that consisted of victories against Zambia 5-0, Costa Rica 2-0 and most impressive of all, a 4-0 thrashing of Spain in the final game of the group phase.

Futoshi Ikeda's side then continued their impressive winning momentum into the knockout rounds as they eased aside Norway with a 3-1 victory which has sent them into the final eight of this year's World Cup.

The Japanese will be keen to match their previous best of winning this competition again this time having previously won the World Cup title back in 2011, and having won seven of their last eight matches in all competitions, Japan look to be in good shape to continue their World Cup campaign with a narrow win here on Friday night.

Sweden also topped their respective group earlier in the tournament as Peter Gerhardsson's side chalked up wins against South Africa, Italy and Argentina on their way to also recording a 100% winning record and finishing with the maximum haul of nine points along the way.

Sweden proved to be more than a match for USA as well in the subsequent round of last 16 as they held the States to a 0-0 draw after normal and extra-time, and indeed ran out victors by way of a penalty shoot-out and thus sending one of the favourites to lift the World Cup title, USA, crashing out of the competition.

In addition, Sweden have lost just three out of their last 29 matches in all competitions and collecting no fewer than 21 wins in the process, so they too will feel confident about their chances of progressing through to the semi-finals of this World Cup as well.

Sweden are another side that will be looking to go one step better in this World Cup campaign as the Swedes finished runners-up back in 2003 when they lost 2-1 to Germany in the final, but can they get the better of a well-drilled and disciplined Japanese side on Friday night?

Japan W v Sweden W Verdict

Sweden have won each of the previous two meetings against Japan which were in the Tokyo Olympics and an earlier friendly but Japan registered a 3-1 win over Sweden in the World Cup back in 2011, so this could be a hard-fought and low-scoring battle at Eden Park.

Therefore, our main bet will be Under 2.5 goals @ 1.60

Other side bets worth considering:

Japan win @ 2.15

Correct score: Japan 1-0 @ 6.50