Women’s World Cup 2023: Japan vs Sweden Prediction, Preview, Stream, Odds and Picks

Japan: Truly Dominant

Japan won the WWC title in 2011 and lost the Grand Finale in 2015. However, four years ago, the Nadeshiko failed to finish in the top four. That’s why, prior to the start of the current edition, they weren’t among the betting online favorites to win gold.

Well, the players took that personally and decided to prove the experts wrong. First, they won Group C with a perfect record, 11 goals for and zero against. They crushed Zambia 5-0 and did practically the same against Spain (4-0). The Nadeshiko also defeated Costa Rica 2-0.

Most recently, they had no trouble defeating Norway 3-1. Of course, the fact that the tournament’s top scorer plays for them has a lot to do with their success. We’re talking about Hinata Miyazawa, who has scored five goals. Mina Tanaka also deserves some credit since she leads the team in assists with three. And, of course, the defense.

In the end, we can say that we’re talking about a well-balanced squad. That’s why they’re in control of the soccer oddsfor Friday’s match at +125. That price gives you the chance of winning $125 per every $100 wagered. Keep in mind that Japan won seven of its last eight matches in all competitions by a 24-3 aggregate. In other words, that’s an amazing deal.

Sweden: Tireless

Sweden also had a very good performance during the Group Stage, winning Group G with nine points, nine goals for and only one against. The thing is that, unlike Japan, that was expected since the Blue and Yellow finished third in the 2019 edition.

They suffered a bit more than expected but ended up defeating South Africa 2-1. Later, they crushed Italy 5-0. Finally, they beat Argentina 2-0. Amanda Ilestad was the MVP during the Group Stage after scoring three goals.

Their toughest opponent, so far, was the United States. The two collided in the Round of 16 and, as expected, it was a back-and-forth battle that finished with a goalless draw. The Blue and Yellow won the penalty shootout 5-4. They expect even a tougher battle against Japan.

“I think Japan is maybe the most exciting team and maybe the team who’s impressed me the most so far. We know it will require a lot of hard work but everything is possible,” said Sweden goalkeeper Zecira Musovic during an interview.

That mentality also makes the Blue and Yellow a tempting underdog, especially at +240, which is the price they’re offering in the soccer lines to win straight up. Regarding handicap, they’re +½ at -115, which is another hint that you can expect a close contest.

Japan vs Sweden Head-to-Head

Sweden leads the all-time series against Japan with a 3-1-1 record. Three of those matches were in the WWC, but their last meeting was in the quarterfinals of the 2020 Olympics. The Blue and Yellow ended up winning 3-1.

Curiously enough, the total for Friday’s clash is set at two goals with the under offering a +105 price in the sportsbook. It’s curious because the total has gone under two goals in only one of their previous encounters.

Check out our betting lines for the Asian Cup, place your best bets and win big today.

Japan vs Sweden Match Information

• Match: Japan vs Sweden
• Date/Time: Friday, Aug. 11, 3:30 a.m. ET
• Location: Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand
• Japan vs Sweden Live Stream: fuboTV

Japan vs Sweden Betting Lines

Japan vs Sweden Picks and Prediction

Musovic wasn’t wrong: Right now, Japan is the team to beat in the WWC. As mentioned before, the Blue and Yellow are a very tempting underdog, especially once you confirm that they only lost three of their last 20 matches in all competitions.

Nevertheless, Japan is a resilient team. Prior to the tournament, they lost 1-0 to Spain in a friendly match. During the tournament, they crushed Spain 4-0. That being said, I recommend you enjoy the game and include the draw in your soccer picks.