Related videos:
Sweden crushed Tunisia by 5-1 in their debut at the , in a match played yesterday at the BBVA Stadium in Monterrey, clearly demonstrating that the Scandinavians arrive at the tournament with genuine ambitions.
The tell a story of brutal efficiency: Sweden had only 49% possession but converted six of their 12 shots into goals, while Tunisia, with 51% of the ball, managed only one shot on target throughout the match.
Yasin Ayari opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a goal he did not celebrate, in a gesture that reflected his Tunisian roots. Alexander Isak extended the lead in the 30th minute with his typical composure in front of goal. When Omar Rekik scored for Tunisia in the 43rd minute, it seemed the match could become complicated, but the second half was a Swedish monologue.
Viktor Gyökeres sealed the match in the 59th minute, Mattias Svanberg scored the fourth goal in the 84th minute, and Ayari completed his brace with a stunning shot into the corner in the 90+6 minute for a final score of 5-1.
The duo of Gyökeres and Isak, forwards for Arsenal and Liverpool respectively, is shaping up to be one of the most dangerous in the tournament. Gyökeres, the top scorer in Europe for the 2024-25 season with 53 goals and winner of the Gerd Müller Trophy at the 2025 Ballon d'Or, was also pivotal in the playoff that returned after eight years of absence.
Tunisia, for its part, accumulated five offsides and showed a disorganized defensive line that the Swedish coach Graham Potter was able to exploit effectively.
With this victory, Sweden leads with three points and a goal difference of +4. The Netherlands and Japan are tied for second place with one point each after drawing 2-2 in Arlington, while sits at the bottom of the table with zero points and a goal difference of -4.
Sweden's next challenge will be against the Netherlands on June 20 in Houston, a match that could determine the group's leadership. Tunisia, on the other hand, will need an immediate reaction when they face Japan on June 21 in Monterrey, as their qualification is already at risk.
Filed under: