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Sweden forward Anthony Elanga has revealed that he had no idea a draw would be enough to take his team into the World Cup knockout rounds, even after scoring the decisive goal in their 1-1 draw with Japan.

Sweden confirmed their passage to the knockout stages of the World Cup for the eighth time in their history after a tense encounter with Japan ended level. Elanga, who scored the equaliser, admitted after the match that he was completely unaware that a single point would be enough to seal Sweden’s progress as one of the best third-placed teams in the tournament.

Elanga’s crucial strike in a tense battle

The first half was largely uneventful, with both teams struggling to create clear chances. The game came alive after the break when Japan’s Daizen Maeda opened the scoring in the 56th minute, finishing off a flowing attacking move. Sweden struck back almost immediately through Elanga, who, after cutting in from the right, fired a stunning shot with his weaker left foot past the goalkeeper to equalise.

That goal marked Elanga’s second of the competition and ensured Sweden earned the point needed to progress. The final minutes were nerve-wracking as Alexander Isak came agonisingly close to scoring a winner when his header struck the crossbar. Despite the late drama, Sweden managed to hold on, finishing behind the Netherlands and Japan in Group F.

Confusion on the Swedish side

While the Swedish bench was preoccupied with calculating the group standings, Elanga remained single-mindedly focused on chasing victory. “I was just shouting, ‘Come on, we can go for more’. I’m happy we’re through, but I didn’t know that at the end,” the forward admitted after the final whistle. The former Manchester United player was so determined to push forward that he ignored the instructions being shouted from the technical area.

The 24-year-old explained that senior team official Sebastian Larsson and other staff members were trying to communicate the standings as time ran out. “I think they were trying to scream to me,” Elanga said. “I just wanted to keep running. I got cramp at the end but didn’t want to stop. I’m happy, and the whole team is too.”

Teammate Isak later admitted he was astonished to learn that Elanga hadn’t realised the situation, joking that he gave him “a bit of a telling-off” after the match. “He was a little frustrated towards the end, and now we know why,” the Liverpool striker remarked with a grin.

Manager Graham Potter took the mix-up in good humour, saying, “That explains a few things. We couldn’t have been clearer… bless him! But I love him.” Captain Victor Lindelof also joked that Elanga must have missed the tactical briefing before the match, laughing, “He can’t have been awake enough.”

Potter’s tactical tweaks deliver results

For the decisive fixture, Potter made several key changes, including bringing Elanga into the starting eleven and handing Jacob Widell Zetterstrom the goalkeeper’s gloves. The manager’s decision to rotate his squad paid off, as Sweden displayed much greater organisation and spirit following their heavy loss to the Netherlands.

“We studied the Netherlands game carefully,” Potter explained. “We needed to defend the box and wide areas better today. We chose Jacob because he’s a terrific goalkeeper and his distribution is excellent. Anthony gives us a counter-attacking option with his speed that really unsettles opponents.”

Tough opposition ahead in the Round of 32

By finishing third in Group F, Sweden avoided an immediate clash with Brazil, who will now face Japan. However, Potter’s men still face a difficult road ahead, with a Round of 32 match likely against the winners of Group I on June 30, depending on the outcome of the France versus Norway fixture. Another potential opponent could be Germany, who topped Group E.

Elanga remains upbeat about Sweden’s chances regardless of who they face next. “Both teams are strong. It will be a challenge, but we’re ready for whatever comes,” he said confidently. With four points and a neutral goal difference from three group matches, Sweden appear to have rediscovered their rhythm just in time for the knockout phase.