Preview: Japan Women vs. Sweden Women - prediction, team news, lineups

Japan Women and Sweden Women will be vying for a place in the semi-finals of the Women's World Cup 2023 when they face off at Eden Park on Friday.

Sweden eliminated the defending champions USA in the previous round, while Japan brushed past Norway in their last-16 tie.

Match preview

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Twelve years after winning their one and only Women's World Cup trophy, Japan are firmly in the hunt for silverware in Australia and New Zealand.

They dispatched Zambia and Costa Rica with ease in their opening two games, before claiming a statement 4-0 victory over Spain in their final group match.

Japan's sturdy defence was finally breached in their last-16 tie with Norway when Chelsea's Guro Reiten cancelled out Vilde Boe Risa's own goal.

The two sides may have been on level terms at the break, but Risa Shimizu quickly restored Japan's lead after the interval, before Hinata Miyazawa found the net to round off a 3-1 win.

Having sealed their place in the last eight, Japan will now be looking to advance to the Women's World Cup semi-finals for the third time in their history.

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Sweden conquered the defending champions in the last 16 after they withstood USA's relentless pressure to send a goalless encounter to penalties.

Although Sweden were unable to convert two of their spot kicks, three missed efforts from their opponents gave Lina Hurtig the chance to win a dramatic shootout.

Hurtig was made to wait for VAR to rule whether her strike had crossed the line after Alyssa Naeher did her utmost to keep the Arsenal forward out, but her efforts were to no avail, as a goal was confirmed to spark scenes of jubilation among the Sweden squad.

After ending USA's hopes of winning a third consecutive Women's World Cup, Sweden will now focus on their own aspirations of winning the tournament for the very first time.

They have managed to reach the semi-finals on four occasions, including in France four years ago when they beat Germany 2-1 to advance to the last four.

Team News

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After making light work of their last-16 tie with Norway, Japan boss Futoshi Ikeda is expected to name an unchanged lineup.

Hana Takahashi will start a third consecutive game, and she will be joined in a back three by Saki Kumagai and Moeka Minami.

Miyazawa is currently the tournament's top scorer, and she will be looking to add to her four-goal tally when she features up front on Friday.

As for Sweden, Peter Gerhardsson could also opt for consistency and select the same side that started against the USA.

Arsenal summer signing Amanda Ilestedt will continue to operate in central defence alongside Magdalena Eriksson, and they will be aiming to record a fourth consecutive clean sheet.

Having scored three goals at the tournament, Barcelona's Fridolina Rolfo will offer one of Sweden's main goal threats.

Japan Women possible starting lineup:

Yamashita; Takahashi, Kumagai, Minami; Shimizu, Hasegawa, Nagano, Endo; Miyazawa, Fujino, Tanaka

Sweden Women possible starting lineup:

Musovic; Bjorn, Ilestedt, Eriksson, Andersson; Angeldahl, Rubensson; Rytting Kaneryd, Asllani, Rolfo; Blackstenius

We say: Japan Women 2-1 Sweden Women

After playing 120 minutes against the USA, there may be some weary legs among the Sweden squad, and we think that tiredness could play into the hands of their opponents.

Japan have proven at the tournament that they are comfortable dominating possession as well as launching clinical counter-attacks, and we think that they will showcase their attacking talent to secure their place in the semi-finals.

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