After a 5-1 victory against Tunisia and a heavy 1-5 loss to the Netherlands, Sweden stands on three points and a +1 goal difference ahead of the final group stage match.
Japan awaits in Dallas at 1 a.m. Friday local time in Sweden.
It could be a shocker. Despite the big opening victory, Sweden can't really count on a place in the round of 16 just yet.
Japan impresses
Viktor Gyökeres is looking forward to the challenge.
There is one match left in the group. So we just have to make sure we win it and things will look good again. It will be a fun match to play, and a lot is at stake. It will be fun, says the Arsenal star.
Japan drew 2-2 in the opener against the Netherlands and followed that up by crushing Tunisia 4-0. It won't be an easy nut to crack for the Swedish team.
"But Sweden still has a good chance of advancing, and that's a good thing," says Celtic midfielder Benjamin Nygren.
"We have everything in our own hands and it's up to us whether we advance or not. Before the World Cup, it was the seat you wanted to be in before the last match," says Nygren.
We know that Japan is a very good team. It will take a good performance to beat them.
Bergvall wants to start
Nygren has started both of Sweden's World Cup matches so far. But 20-year-old Tottenham player Lucas Bergvall is knocking on the door for a starting spot, having made some lively substitutions when he replaced Nygren both against Tunisia and the Netherlands.
Bergvall dreams of starting his first World Cup match in his career.
"It's a huge dream, 100 percent. But whatever is best for the team and what Graham believes in, I'm behind it," says Bergvall.
Just like his teammates, he is confident that Sweden will reach the playoffs.
We know what kind of team we have and what qualities we have. We have to level up and improve our defense. But we still have a lot to play for. We have much bigger ambitions than this.
