Japan's team was formidable, achieving a stunning 1-0 upset against England, while Sweden staged a miraculous comeback & Italy missed out on the World Cup.

On April 1st Beijing time, multiple matches took place in world football. In a friendly, Asia's top-ranked Japan surprisingly defeated high-value England 1-0. Meanwhile, in the European World Cup qualifiers, Sweden scored in the 88th minute to secure a 3-2 victory over Poland, advancing to the World Cup with just two wins. Italy once again fell in the playoffs, losing 2-5 in a penalty shootout to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a shocking exit, marking their third consecutive World Cup absence!

Japan faced England. Against England, which boasts the world's top league, although England wasn't at full strength, Japan seriously deployed their strongest lineup to prepare for the World Cup. The match saw back-and-forth action, with Japan using tactical coordination to score first via Mitoma's decisive goal. Then, they focused entirely on defense to withstand pressure, ultimately defeating England 1-0, marking their first-ever victory over England and creating history once more. It must be said that Japan has now joined the ranks of top-tier teams, having defeated world powers like Germany, Spain, Brazil, and England. They stand alone in Asia, and globally, no team can confidently claim a sure win over Japan. The Chinese national team truly can't compare!

Sweden's team is quite remarkable, thoroughly understanding the rules. They failed to win any matches in the World Cup qualifying group stage, finishing bottom and missing direct qualification, yet this didn't prevent them from entering the playoffs thanks to their UEFA Nations League performance. In the playoffs, they defeated both Ukraine and Poland, securing a World Cup ticket with just two wins—a feat that truly commands respect!

Italy, having been defeated twice by Norway in the World Cup qualifying group stage and missing direct qualification, once again fell into the playoffs. They won to advance, facing Bosnia and Herzegovina in the playoff final. Unexpectedly, Bastoni's red card disrupted Italy's rhythm; passive defense ultimately couldn't hold, allowing Bosnia to force a penalty shootout. In the shootout, Italy's players lacked confidence, delivering poor penalties, leading to a 2-5 defeat and a shocking, humiliating elimination by Bosnia. It must be said Italy's plight is truly tragic: a four-time World Cup winner, yet in the last three tournaments, they've fallen in the playoffs, losing face. This only highlights Serie A's decline—the playstyle is too slow, lacking attacking prowess, which is truly disheartening to watch!

Text/Sports Novel