In advance, most of the talk revolved around Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres, a Swedish attacking duo who each play for their own top club in the Premier League.
Could they collaborate?
The answer came against Tunisia when Sweden won 5–1. Isak had one goal and two assists; Gyökeres had one goal and one assist.
Isak, who had an injury-plagued season at Liverpool, praised the team after the victory and said the hard work had paid off.
This effort means a lot. It’s a different environment here because we’re playing for Sweden, for our homeland. It feels incredible.
There are many of us who are World Cup debutants, and to be able to debut in this way is a bit surreal actually.
Isak says about his own efforts:
Like the rest of the team, we’re doing well. We got an early goal, which made it a bit easier to play.
Gyökeres: “The real national team”
The idea is that he and another world-class striker, Arsenal’s Viktor Gyökeres, will lead Sweden’s attack. Isak said the partnership worked well against Tunisia.
He and I are supposed to be the difference. We’re expected to press, make decisive actions and then recover a bit. When the two of us play together, it doesn’t mean we have to play a certain way; the most important thing is that we contribute to the team.
Viktor Gyökeres himself was pleased with the performance and described it all as a “very good match”.
There’s not much to complain about, right?
Gyökeres, who scored, took a heavy challenge but still managed to set up Alexander Isak to make it 2–0.
It’s good as usual; we’ve had a great partnership before. When I got hit I was still able to look up from the ground, and it was nice that he scored.
The 28-year-old star says his body feels good – despite several knocks. At the same time, he looks back on the disappointing World Cup qualifiers.
We know we are an extremely good team. The World Cup qualifiers may not have done us justice, so it’s nice to be able to show what we can do. This is the real national team.
Sweden will face the Netherlands on Midsummer Day (19:00 local time in Sweden) and then Japan (01:00 local time in Sweden on Friday 26 June) in the group stage.
Facts: Alexander Isak
Position: Forward.
Club: Liverpool.
Previous clubs: AIK (2015–2017), Borussia Dortmund (2017–2019), Willem II (loan) (2019), Real Sociedad (2019–2022), Newcastle (2022–2025).
International matches/goals: 59/18.
Age: 28.
Facts: Viktor Gyökeres
Club: Arsenal.
Previous clubs: Aspudden-Tellus, Brommapojkarna, Brighton, St Pauli (loan), Swansea (loan), Coventry, Sporting Lisbon.
International matches/goals: 34/21.
