Sweden's Anthony Elanga experienced a dramatic emotional shift after his team's crucial World Cup draw against Japan, initially believing the result meant elimination rather than advancement. The forward scored Sweden's lone goal in the 1-1 tie on Thursday, a performance that ultimately helped secure their spot in the tournament's round of 32.
When the final whistle blew, Elanga fell to his knees in distress, under the impression that the single point earned was insufficient for Sweden to progress. "I didn’t know that one point was enough," Elanga told Swedish media after the match. "I just shouted: ‘Come on, we can go for more.’ I’m glad we’re through. I didn’t know that at the end."
While Elanga processed his perceived exit, his teammates celebrated their advancement as one of the eight best third-place teams. Sweden's manager, Graham Potter, observed Elanga's reaction and expressed surprise. Upon learning the reason for Elanga's despair, Potter understood the player's emotional state. "That explains a few things then. It couldn’t have been any clearer for him, so he’s obviously thinking about something else then, bless him," Potter commented, adding a touch of endearment, "I love him at the moment, but dear me."
Sweden's group stage journey was a rollercoaster of results. They began with a decisive 5-1 victory over Tunisia but subsequently suffered a 5-1 defeat against the Netherlands. This loss made their final group match against Japan critical, as any failure to secure at least a point would have ended their World Cup aspirations.
The match against Japan did not start favorably for Sweden, with Japan taking the lead in the 56th minute. However, Elanga equalized in the 62nd minute with a goal struck from just outside the penalty area. Sweden now awaits their opponent in the next round, likely to face the winner of Group I, which consists of France or Norway.