Group F Preview: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia
Alexi Lalas’ State of the Union Podcast
FOX Sports
4.2 • 1.1K Ratings
🗓️ 4 June 2026
⏱️ 12 minutes
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| 0:53.5 | Hello, Sunshine. I'm Alexei Lalas and welcome for the State of the Union show presented by Zillow. Someday starts today. This is where we look at the beautiful game on and off the field with a lens of red, white, and blue-colored glasses. Today, we're looking at Group F as we make our way through our World Cup previews. But first, joining me as all as my friend, my colleague, my guiding light, Davidie, a soccer savant, a Fox Soccer researcher and writer, extraordinary. All right, Mossie, you're ready to like this candle here on Group F? Let's do it. Group F includes the Netherlands, the most accomplished nation yet to win a World Cup. They've been runners up three times, 74, 78, and 2010. We'll see if they can get over the hump this time. Japan have been on the cusp of a real breakthrough. The last two World Cups, 2018, they led Belgium 2-0 in the round of 16, lost 3-2, and then in 22 they went out to Croatia on penalties in the round of 16. So could this be the summer when they go on a deeper run? You've got Sweden, who, as we know, finished third when the World Cup was last held in the United States in 94. Remember that great team, Thomas Brolin, Martin Dahlin. They reached the quarterfinals in 18, missed out in 22. They took an interesting route to this World Cup, failing to win a game in qualifying, but got to the playoffs via the Nations League and then qualified. And then Tunisia at their third straight World Cup, first African |
| 2:05.7 | nation ever to win a World Cup match in 78 when they beat Mexico. So let's start with the Netherlands. |
| 2:11.1 | What do you see from the Dutch? As you mentioned, only eight countries in history have ever won. |
| 2:18.3 | And you would think that the Netherlands, given their pedigree, would have been one of them. |
| 2:21.2 | But they are not for people that just kind of came into the World Cup tent. |
| 2:26.1 | Maybe last World Cup, you will recognize the Netherlands. |
| 2:28.8 | The U.S. went out to the Netherlands team. |
| 2:31.6 | Big loss with Javi Simmons going out with injury. |
| 2:35.9 | Who's going to play up top? |
... |
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