Sweden coach Graham Potter praised the chemistry between strikers Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres after they tore Tunisia’s defense to shreds in a 5-1 win in their World Cup opener on Sunday.
Yasin Ayari started and completed the scoring, and substitute Mattias Svanberg also found the net, but it was Isak and Gyokeres who posed Tunisia’s biggest threat throughout the match.
Both players scored a goal and created a host of other chances as the Swedes cruised to victory in Group F.
“Individually they are of course top players, but together I think they can be a real threat,” Potter told a news conference. “I think they get better the more they play; they complement each other very well.
Isak and Gyokeres each scored a goal and created a host of other chances as the Swedes cruised to victory in Group F. | Photo credit: AP
Isak and Gyokeres each scored a goal and created a host of other chances as the Swedes cruised to victory in Group F. | Photo credit: AP
“I am very pleased with the players,” he added. “We know the quality of the individuals in the front positions, but they needed a team to function.
«We weren’t perfect; we knew we wouldn’t be. But at the start of the game I thought we were in good control.»
Sunday’s match marked the first time Sweden and Tunisia met at the World Cup.
Tunisia had not conceded a single goal in qualifying, but Sunday was the second match in a row. The country conceded five after losing 5-0 to Belgium in a pre-tournament warm-up match.
Sweden leads the group with three points, after the Netherlands and Japan drew 2-2 earlier in the day. Sweden’s next match is against the Netherlands on June 20 in Houston.
“We know we will meet a top team next and we have to be ready for that,” Potter said.
Published on June 15, 2026
