Potter demands Sweden improve in defence ahead of crunch Japan match

[p]The Swedes followed up their opening 5-1 win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tunisia/QqZVYk95/"]‌Tunisia[/a] with a loss by the same scoreline to the Dutch to ‌sit in third in Group F, one point behind both ‌the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/netherlands/WYintcWb/"]Netherlands[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/japan/ULXPdOUj/"]Japan[/a].[/p][p][b]"We can't defend in the way that we did, we have to improve that situation,"[/b] Potter told reporters.[/p][p][b]"Japan are strong on ‌the wings and they're strong through the middle ⁠as well, so we meet ‌a very good team and we have to make sure that we ​are better than we were in that respect."[/b][/p][p]The Japanese are unbeaten in both matches having twice battled back ​from a goal down to draw with the Netherlands before handing the Tunisians a 4-0 defeat that eliminated the African side.[/p][h2]Japan a collective unit[/h2][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kamada-daichi/bayITLyE/"]Daichi Kamada[/a] has scored ​in both matches for Hajime Moriyasu's side while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ueda-ayase/8Ssd0upn/"]Ayase Ueda[/a] put in a commanding performance against Tunisia, scoring twice and setting up a third to highlight the quality throughout the Japan team.[/p][p][b]"Whoever plays ‌offers a threat, it's not about individuals with the Japanese team,"[/b] said Potter.[/p][p][b]"I think their biggest strength is collectively. You don't know who's going to play, you can't second-guess their position. They have a collective threat in attack, a collective defence and that's something we have to be very, very aware of."[/b][/p][p]The Swedes carry a significant attacking threat of their own in the shape of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/isak-alexander/p41IV42c/"]Alexander Isak[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gyokeres-viktor/zaBZ1xIk/"]Viktor Gyokeres[/a].[/p][embed guid="38140d98-2c61-4096-94ff-2c872424dcb2" url="https://x.com/svenskfotboll/status/2070084587905065244" social-type="twitter" /][p]Gyokeres won the Premier League ‌with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a] in his first season with the club while Isak ​struggled with injuries following his move to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/liverpool/lId4TMwf/"]Liverpool[/a]. However, both have already contributed with goal involvements in the tournament so far.[/p][p][b]"I don't ‌think it will be fear, I think it's respect,"[/b] said Potter. [b]"Respect for what they've achieved, in terms of one has won the Premier League and one has had a great career and a big move to a top team.[/b][/p][p][b]"Although the ⁠season he has had has ⁠been disrupted by injury, ‌Alex is still a top, top player."[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/japan-ULXPdOUj/sweden-OQyqbHWB/?mid=Sl2xgtXi"]Follow Japan vs Sweden on Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]