2026 World Cup: Sweden blow Tunisia away thanks to the Isak-Gyokeres partnership, an attacking masterclass
Sweden sent a clear warning to the rest of Group F. Overnight from Sunday into Monday in Monterrey, the Scandinavians controlled Tunisia from start to finish and ran out 5-1 winners, driven by an Isak-Gyokeres attacking pair that was simply devastating. Yasin Ayari opened the scoring in the 7th minute with a finish he celebrated quietly, the Brighton midfielder born to a Tunisian father and, you suspect, would have preferred to score against anyone else. Hand on heart, face like thunder, he still kicked off a night that soon turned into a rout.
Alexander Isak then took over. Set free from the centre circle after a chest control and turn from Gyokeres, the Newcastle striker doubled the lead in the 30th minute, helped by Abdelmouhib Chamakh fumbling the ball. Tunisia thought they had halved the deficit just before the break through a drifting header from Omar Rekik (43rd minute), but it did not last long. Isak nicked a loose pass from Skhiri to set up Gyokeres for Sweden’s third (59th minute), before teeing up Svanberg with a clever backheel (85th minute). Ayari wrapped up the demolition with a thunderous strike in stoppage time (90th+5).
on MathODDS
Tunisia in real trouble, the Carthage Eagles already backed into a corner
Behind Sweden’s show, Tunisia’s display was the real concern. The Carthage Eagles showed glaring defensive flaws and could not live with two forwards of this quality. The imbalance across the pitch was obvious throughout, with the Tunisian back line never finding the calm needed to stem the Scandinavian tide.
The situation is already grim for Tunisia after one game. What comes next in Group F looks just as tough, with Japan and then the Netherlands waiting in the wings. An early exit now looks the most likely outcome for a Carthage Eagles side that flat out disappointed on their opening night. In Group F, Sweden join Ivory Coast at the top on three points each.
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