Group F preview
Japan: The Japanese are heading to the World Cup on the back of five clean sheets in a row which leaves them in good stead in a tough group with Sweden, Tunisia and the Netherlands, the big talking point heading into this tournament was whether or not Karou Mitoma would be fit enough to make the squad and unfortunately he hasn’t made it with a muscle injury keeping him out of the World Cup which is a big blow to this side. Japan always entertain at the World Cup finishing top of the group in 2022 which contained both Germany and Spain, Croatia knocked them out on penalties in the Round of 16 so I think the aim for Japan will be the quarter-finals this time around which is definitely possible with this extended format of the competition. They’ll have to be on top form just to get out of this group with the other teams being quite strong which should make for a competitive group hopefully, can Japan be Asia’s shining light in this World Cup yet again? Probably.
Player to watch: Takefusa Kubo
Netherlands: The Dutch are travelling to the World Cup in their best shape since 2010 in my opinion, they reached the semi-finals in Euro 2024 going out to a last-minute winner by Ollie Watkins but it was a successful tournament for the Dutch overall. My main negative with the Netherlands has always been the lack of a quality number 9 ever since Van Persie retired but the emergence of Donyell Malen in the last six months for AS Roma who has ripped the league to shreds has boosted their chances massively of having a successful tournament, the defence on paper looks excellent with the likes of Van de Ven, Van Dijk, Timber and Dumfries likely making up the defence with a midfield of De Jong, Gravenberch and Reijnders just behind Gakpo, Malen and Summeville. That team on paper is easily one of the strongest in the tournament so there’s no reason why the Netherlands can’t at least hope to make the semi-finals in my opinion, they should be aiming for higher though. Why can’t this be the Netherlands year?
Player to watch: Donyell Malen
Sweden: I think Sweden can count themselves lucky to be in this tournament if I’m honest as they only got into the play-off based on their Nations League campaign as their actual qualifying campaign was a complete disaster but thanks to a Viktor Gyokeres hat-trick against Poland they have made the World Cup for the first time since 2018, the biggest question for Sweden is regarding the fitness of Alexander Isak and if he’ll manage to be match-fit for a Sweden team that needs him badly. They do have other quality players like Lucas Bervaal, Anthony Elanga, Victor Lindelof and Isak Hien but you get the feeling that Gyokeres and Isak are going to have to perform at a very high level if Sweden are to go far in this tournament, they definitely have the ability to at least finish 2nd in this group ahead of Japan but the lack of form heading into the tournament would worry me if I’m Graham Potter. I think the aim should be the quarter-finals for this Sweden team, any further would be a shock to probably just about everyone.
Player to watch: Yasin Ayari
Tunisia: The Tunisians are coming into this World Cup off the back of a very disappointing AFCON in January where they were put out on penalties in the Round of 16 by Mali and since then they have gone three games in a row without scoring a single goal, the last friendly they played was against Belgium where they lost 5-0 so you get the feeling that it might be a very short tournament this time around for Tunisia. I can’t help but feel that they will finish this group in 4th solely based off the lack of quality compared to the other three teams in the group but you never know, one win against Japan, Sweden or the Netherlands could see them into the Round of 32 which would be a huge success considering the lack of optimism heading into the tournament.
Player to watch: Hannibal Mejbri
Overall prediction for the group:
1.Netherlands
2.Sweden
3.Japan
4.Tunisia