Kubo misses Sweden clash as World Cup hopes hang on a thread

Kubo out, Japan's best player won't face you

Takefusa Kubo is not even traveling to Dallas. A Japan national team representative confirmed it: he misses Wednesday's group finale against Sweden (1) (5). That is Japan's most dangerous attacker, gone. A clean break for a Swedish back line that shipped five against the Netherlands.

You can still go through, even with a loss

The math is not done. Sweden can lose to Japan and still reach the last 16, depending on results elsewhere in the group (2). Not pretty. Not the way anyone drew it up. But the door is not closed.

Carragher rips into Isak: "He looks scared"

Jamie Carragher did not hold back. "He's not even running," the former Liverpool defender said of Alexander Isak after the Netherlands collapse (3). For a striker carrying Sweden's main goal threat, that lands hard. Isak needs a response in Dallas.

No round of 16 at Ullevi

If Sweden advance, the fans won't get a homecoming. Got Events CEO Lotta Nibell confirmed to GP that Ullevi will not host a last-16 tie: "Of course it's really disappointing" (4). The knockout road runs elsewhere.

Rytting Kaneryd closing in on Lyon move

Sweden winger Johanna Rytting Kaneryd is nearing a transfer from Chelsea to Lyon, per reports (6). A move to one of Europe's biggest women's sides. Details still thin, but the direction is clear.