30.
9:06 p.m
Half-time conclusion:
At halftime, Sweden leads 17:13 against Japan.
30.
9:06 p.m
End of 1st half
30.
9:06 p.m
Goal for Sweden, 17:13 by Jonathan Edvardsson
29.
9:02 p.m
Team Timeout (Japan)! Toni Gerona energetically demands more steam and more speed. A successful attack and a subsequent conquest of the ball including a fast counterattack should put more pressure on the opponent.
28.
9:02 p.m
Goal for Sweden, 16:13 by Lukas Sandell
28.
9:01 p.m
Ren Arase tries a hip throw at just under eight meters, but Andreas Palicka records save number ten.
26.
9:00 p.m
2 minutes for Soya Ichihara (Japan)
This is his second time penalty. Next time Ichihara’s evening will end early with a red card.
26.
8:59 p.m
Goal for Sweden, 15:13 by Andreas Nilsson
25.
20:58
Goal for Japan, 14:13 by Asumi Kitazume
So there is only one hole left of the five-goal deficit. Can Japan continue to catch up?
25.
20:58
When outnumbered, the 2022 European champions play underground. One technical error follows another, while the underdog gradually becomes intoxicated. Sweden has been without a goal for over three and a half minutes.
24.
8:57 p.m
Goal for Japan, 14:12 by Seito Yano
23.
20:56
Eeew! Sweden loses the ball and plays too hectically. But Japan doesn’t do any better and puts the marble past the orphaned box.
23.
8:55 p.m
Goal for Japan, 14:11 by Seito Yano
22.
8:55 p.m
Goal for Japan, 14:10 by Kotaro Mizumachi
This is how it could work! With the Japanese in the majority, they make a quick crossing at a very central nine meters and Kotaro Mizumachi takes to the air. He bends his arm slightly to the left and hits the ball unstoppably into the net.
22.
20:54
2 minutes for Eric Johansson (Sweden)
21.
20:54
Goal for Sweden, 14:9 by Hampus Wanne
21.
20:52
Team Timeout (Sweden)! Michael Apelgren takes the first time out and announces the next moves in a calm tone. Basically, he can be satisfied with the way his team is playing. If the Scandinavians correct a few careless mistakes, it should quickly become very clear.
19.
20:51
Strong! At the circle, Sweden loses the ball when they are in the majority and Japan wants to go straight forward. Andreas Palicka smells the roast and safely fishes away the resinous play equipment at the center line.
19.
8:50 p.m
2 minutes for Soya Ichihara (Japan)
19.
8:49 p.m
Goal for Japan, 13:9 by Tsubasa Nakamura
18.
8:48 p.m
Seventh save by Andreas Palicka! And the yellow shirts continue to put pressure on the front. After a few passes, an action is usually triggered and then things happen quickly. Japan can’t find a way to counter the powerful thrusting on the seams. In addition, the backcourt players are allowed to act too freely.
18.
8:48 p.m
Goal for Sweden, 13:8 by Andreas Nilsson
16.
8:47 p.m
Goal for Sweden, 12:8 by Jim Gottfridsson
16.
8:46 p.m
Both teams made 15 shots. Goalkeeper Andreas Palicka is certainly a factor among the favorites, with Japan’s goalkeeper also making good saves, but overall receiving less support from their own defense.
15.
8:45 p.m
Goal for Sweden, 11:8 by Hampus Wanne
Great pass from Jonathan Carlsbogård to Hampus Wanne, who easily scores his second goal of the game. Japan’s goalkeeper Takumi Nakamura has no chance.
14.
8:44 p.m
Goal for Japan, 10:8 by Naoki Sugioka
13.
8:44 p.m
Goal for Sweden, 10:7 by Albin Lagergren
13.
8:44 p.m
Goal for Japan, 9:7 by Kotaro Mizumachi
12.
8:44 p.m
At times it goes back and forth wildly. Sweden’s defense no longer acts very consistently and allows Japan to finish from positions that are too good. On the other hand, the Swedes push the pace and can score at will.
12.
8:43 p.m
Goal for Sweden, 9:6 by Sebastian Karlsson
12.
8:43 p.m
Goal for Japan, 8:6 by Naoki Fujisaka
11.
8:43 p.m
Goal for Sweden, 8:5 by Jonathan Carlsbogård
10.
20:42
Goal for Japan, 7:5 by Tatsuki Yoshino
10.
8:40 p.m
Goal for Sweden, 7:4 by Sebastian Karlsson
Jim Gottfridsson’s pass comes again. The Flensburg man shows a good eye for his teammates.
9.
8:40 p.m
Goal for Japan, 6:4 by Shinnosuke Tokuda
9.
8:40 p.m
Goal for Japan, 6:3 by Tatsuki Yoshino
8.
8:39 p.m
Goal for Sweden, 6:2 by Albin Lagergren
8.
8:39 p.m
Yellow card for Shinnosuke Tokuda (Japan)
7.
8:39 p.m
The Scandinavians have serious advantages both in pure positional play and in fast-paced counterattacks. With their dynamism, the Swedes really make their opponents look old. Japan isn’t playing badly at all, but Sweden seems to be at least a step too big this evening.
7.
8:38 p.m
Goal for Sweden, 5:2 by Sebastian Karlsson
6.
8:37 p.m
Goal for Japan, 4:2 by Naoki Fujisaka
6.
8:37 p.m
Goal for Sweden, 4:1 by Hampus Wanne
5.
8:36 p.m
Goal for Japan, 3-1 by Naoki Fujisaka
He is allowed to move from half-left to the middle undisturbed. At the free throw line, Naoki Fujisaka climbs up and places a touchdown in the near corner. Nice throw.
4.
8:36 p.m
The favorite turns up the heat and takes advantage of the Japanese mistakes. Andreas Palicka has already parried a few throws and overall the Swedish defense is very compact. Japan has to work a lot.
4.
8:35 p.m
Goal for Sweden, 3-0 by Albin Lagergren
4.
8:34 p.m
Goal for Sweden, 2-0 by Felix Möller
3.
8:33 p.m
Yellow card for Felix Möller (Sweden)
3.
8:33 p.m
Both nations started with a spirited approach, but also threw up one or two tickets in these first few minutes. But the level will still rise significantly.
2.
8:32 p.m
Goal for Sweden, 1-0 by Jim Gottfridsson
The SG Flensburg-Handewitt player dynamically breaks through to the left and makes it 1-0.
1.
8:31 p.m
Japan has the throw-off and initially plays from right to left in dark jerseys, Sweden plays in yellow shirts.
1.
8:30 p.m
And get into the action. The evening game in the Unity Arena will be led by the Slovenian referee team Bojan Lah and David Sok.
1.
8:30 p.m
Game start
20:28
The national anthems sound. After that, it’s all about here! Let’s look forward to an intense and goal-packed encounter. Have fun!
20:22
“There’s nothing better than playing in a tournament where every game is crucial. I missed that and I’m happy to be back. My body feels good and I hope my experience will contribute to the team’s success to contribute,” explained right winger Niclas Ekberg, who became European champion with Sweden in 2022 and played his last international match in the World Cup bronze game in 2023, on his return.
20:13
Japan doesn’t necessarily have good memories of the Swedish national team: at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the Japanese suffered a clear 27:40 defeat against Sweden. In its last four World Cup appearances, Japan has not finished higher than 16th place, whereas Sweden finished fourth in the 2023 World Cup and even second in 2021. The selection coached by Toni Gerona tested against Tunisia (34:33), Poland (29:30) and Austria (28:27) before the World Cup and is certainly not to be taken lightly.
20:02
The Swedes, who were highly favored in this duel, had to cope with a number of failures in the run-up to the World Cup. In addition to the Magdeburg duo Felix Claar and Oscar Bergendahl, Füchse center Max Darj, who injured his knee in the test against Iceland, is also out. Sweden’s national coach Michael Apelgren nominated a real veteran in former Veszprém captain Andreas Nilsson. In the most recent preparation, the Scandinavians were in good shape with a 31:31 and a 26:24 against Iceland and can still rely on a strong squad.
7:50 p.m
Good evening and a warm welcome to the Group F game between Sweden and Japan. Kick-off is at 8:30 p.m. in Fornebu, Norway.