Japan has rarely run into problems in this Women’s World Cup, and in the fleeting moments things have looked close, its strategy has held firm: Press forward, attack, go for goals again and again.
Now, that aggression has the Japanese in line to face either Sweden or the United States in a quarterfinal after they picked apart Norway, 3-1, on Saturday night.
Not even Norway’s star striker, Ada Hegerberg, could counter the Japanese push as a late substitute. Hegerberg, the 2018 Ballon D’Or winner, had been dealing with a groin injury but entered the game with roughly 20 minutes left and Norway stepping up its attack.