Teams with tough defenses in this tournament collide Friday as Japan and Sweden square off in the quarterfinals of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Japan breezed through the group stage, outscoring the opposition 11-0 while winning all three matches, and conceded for the first time in the competition in their 3-1 victory against Norway in the Round of 16. Sweden, who finished third in 2019, fell behind 1-0 in their group-stage opener but haven’t allowed a goal since as they’ve won each of their four contests — including a triumph over the two-time reigning champion United States on penalties in the first knockout round. The winner moves on for a showdown with the Spain-Netherlands winner in the semifinals on Aug. 15.
Kickoff at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand is set for 3:30 a.m. ET. The Japanese are the +128 favorites (risk $100 to win $128) on the 90-minute money line in the latest Japan vs. Sweden odds, while the Swedes are +225 underdogs. A 90-minute draw is priced at +200 and the over/under for total goals scored is 2.5. Japan are -167 to advance, while Sweden are +125. Before locking in any Sweden vs. Japan picks, you need to see what proven SportsLine soccer expert Martin Green has to say.
After…
