Thank goodness this is Dallas and not Gijón. There was ultimately no disgrace in a draw that served everyone, even if one might have forgiven Graham Potter and Hajime Moriyasu for shaking hands at half-time. At that point most onlookers may have fancied calling it all off too but a much sparkier second half served up two moments to cherish and left Sweden, who had risked throwing such a promising campaign away, certain of a spot in the last 32.
Japan were already confident of theirs and, as runners-up, will face Brazil in Houston on Monday. It is a mouthwatering knockout clash that surely has no business being contested so early in the competition. In fairness a lower finish might have served them no better and they can be spurred by the precedent set by recent history. Back in October, after all, they thrillingly beat Carlo Ancelotti’s side in Tokyo. They will feel able to do it again and there was no point risking the third-place lottery here.
