FOOTBALL – With some of the disappointment of his side’s 5-1 thrashing by the Netherlands now passed, Sweden coach Graham Potter said his team must be more compact when they take on Japan in their final group game at the World Cup tomorrow.
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 when they take on Japan.
“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 Swedes kicked off the tournament with a 5-1 victory over Tunisia but were brought crashing back down to earth in their Dutch drubbing, and Potter said the issue is to find the right blend between defence and attack.
The Dutch top Group F on four points, ahead of Japan on goals scored in the group stage, with the Swedes in third on three points.
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