The only side left in the tournament who have won the World Cup before, 2011 champions Japan have surged into the last eight with 14 goals scored in four games and one conceded
Hinata Miyazawa
Japan are the revelation of the Women’s World Cup but they must brace themselves for the ultimate clash of styles when they face Sweden in the quarter-finals at Eden Park on Friday.
The only side left in the tournament who have won the World Cup before, 2011 champions Japan have surged into the last eight with 14 goals scored in four games and one conceded.
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One of the few teams to have lined up with three centre-backs, they have been devastating on the counterattack, surgical with their passing in behind the opposition defence and clinical in the final third.
In Hinata Miyazawa they have the leader in the race for the golden boot with five goals. Sweden have built their success on a solid defence 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 holders the United States on penalties in the last 16.
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‘Technical game’
“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.”
James gets two-match ban
Meanwhile, England forward Lauren James received a two-match ban from FIFA on Thursday for the stamp on Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie that earned her a red card in the Women’s World Cup last 16.
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