Elanga didn't know a draw was enough against Japan

Sweden 1–1 Japan, Elanga didn't know it was enough

Anthony Elanga scored the goal that sent Sweden through to the World Cup round of 32, then collapsed at full-time thinking his team was out (2) (3). Elanga had no idea a single point was enough. "I was just screaming," he said afterwards (7).

Your team held firm for the draw, but the real story is the man who scored against you and still thought he was going home. Swedish manager Graham Potter had a quiet word about it: "I love him, but maybe some tutoring wouldn't hurt" (5). Kaishu Sano had warned earlier that Japan's tight schedule, just three days between matches, was a factor in Potter's thinking on rotation.

Japan go through anyway. A 4–0 win over Tunisia and that 2–2 with the Netherlands already had your team sitting comfortably. On to Sweden and the knockout stage.

Ueda's stock keeps rising

Ayase Ueda is the first Japanese player to score a double in a World Cup match. The Feyenoord striker finished the season as Eredivisie top scorer and now has clubs in the Bundesliga and Premier League watching (4). Giovanni van Bronckhorst said he tracks every Feyenoord player in Japan's squad closely.

Fan-reaktioner

Fans on r/soccer are leaning into the absurdity of Elanga's moment. Potter saying "I love him" while also suggesting tutoring has the thread in stitches (1). The mood is light: Sweden are through, Japan are through, and the clip of Elanga screaming in the turf is already doing the rounds. See the thread