Anthony Elanga’s stunning second World Cup goal earned Sweden a 1-1 draw with Japan in Group F in Arlington, but the winger thought they’d been eliminated at full-time until Graham Potter explained the permutations. Sweden finished among the best third-place t
Anthony Elanga looked like a player watching his season end.
At full-time after Sweden’s 1-1 draw with Japan in their final Group F match in Arlington on Thursday. the 24-year-old was sat on the turf. dejected and shaking his head as if the maths had finally run out. His stunner had already gone in—the kind that turns noise into belief—but the moment felt like heartbreak anyway.
Elanga’s goal earned Sweden a result they could build on, and it was enough to see Graham Potter’s side finish as one of the top eight third-place teams to reach the last-32 stage of the tournament. He was named man of the match, yet he wasn’t aware they had made it through.
Potter only understood why the winger was so frustrated when the permutations were put to him during the post-match press conference. The manager joked that the explanation made everything click.
“That explains a few things then, it can’t be any clearer, it couldn’t have been any clearer for him,” Potter said.
Elanga, Potter added, had been thinking about Sweden’s qualification in a way that didn’t match where they actually stood.
“He’s obviously thinking about something else, bless him,” Potter continued. “I love him at the moment but, dear me.”
For Sweden, the emotion quickly shifted from uncertainty to preparation. Elanga’s sublime strike was his second goal at this World Cup, and Potter will be looking to carry that form into the knockout rounds.
Now Sweden know only that they are in the last 32—and the opponent will come from the group of France, Norway, Germany or Switzerland. With current standings pointing toward France, Sweden are likely to play France on Tuesday at 10pm (BST).
“We were just delighted to be there and then, whoever we meet, we know we meet a top team, so we have to be ready,” Potter said as Sweden turn from group-stage drama to the next, harsher step.
Anthony Elanga Sweden Japan World Cup 2026 Group F Graham Potter last-32 Arlington France Norway Germany Switzerland