DALLAS (Texas): Japan will be keeping a close eye on Sweden strikers Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres when the two sides meet in their Group ‘F’ finale at the World Cup on Thursday, where a guaranteed knockout-stage berth is on the line.

The two sides have had contrasting experiences so far: Japan have looked calm and collected against the Netherlands and Tunisia, while Sweden have engaged in two games against the same opposition that finished 5-1, winning one in style and completely collapsing in the other.

Regardless of what happens in the other game in the group, a win for either side will see them finish no worse than second. The top two from Group ‘F’ will then be pitted against their Group ‘C’ counterparts in the last 32.

Potter’s porous side has scored 17 goals but conceded 19 since he took over from Jon Dahl Tomasson last October towards the tail-end of a woeful qualifying campaign that was only salvaged by playoff wins over Ukraine and Poland.

Yet with Isak and Gyokeres up front, they are capable of scoring more than they concede.

“They are without a doubt two of the strongest strikers in this tournament,” Japan defender Shogo Taniguchi told reporters after a recent training session. “We have to disturb and make life uncomfortable for them. They have to feel that we are close to them at all times.”

Potter held an extended media briefing in which he went into great detail about his team, their tactics and what they would need to improve.

“We have to be compact as a team defensively,” Potter said. “I think with Japan, because of their coordination, because of their organisation, because of how synchronised they are, if the pitch is big and we’re defending big areas, then it’s going to be a tough day.

“We have to make sure that we’re compact, and I think that’s going to be the case for the tournament however long we get to, because all the teams are going to be good.”

The game takes place at the Dallas Stadium in Texas.

In the other Group ‘F’ clash on Thursday, the Netherlands take on a Tunisia side in disarray in Kansas City, looking to cement top spot in the pool and manage several strikers carrying knocks.

Tunisia have already been eliminated after two heavy losses that have seen them concede nine goals and draft in coach Herve Renard mid-tournament.

The Dutch top the Group ‘F’ table on goals scored from Japan, with both teams garnering four points and a +4 goal-difference. Sweden have three points and Tunisia’s horror campaign sees them yet to get off the mark.

Renard suggested on Monday this would be his last game in charge of the side.

“I came for a mission related to the World Cup. I havent signed anything beyond that,” he was quoted by ESPN.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2026