Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Sweden launched its World Cup campaign in emphatic fashion on Sunday, powering past Tunisia 5-1 to move to the top of Group F and underline its status as a serious contender for a place in the knockout stages.
The Scandinavian side produced a dominant attacking display led by star forwards Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres, while Brighton midfielder Yasin Ayari stole the spotlight with two spectacular long-range goals at either end of the match.
Sweden needed only six minutes to break the deadlock. Ayari unleashed a stunning strike from distance that flew past the Tunisian goalkeeper, giving Graham Potter’s side the perfect start. The midfielder kept his celebration subdued, acknowledging his family ties to Tunisia, the country where his father was born and one he was eligible to represent internationally.
The early goal settled Sweden and allowed Isak and Gyokeres to take control of the contest. The pair combined brilliantly for Sweden’s second goal five minutes before halftime. Gyokeres laid the ball off near the halfway line and Isak did the rest, surging forward before cutting inside and firing a clinical finish into the bottom corner.
Tunisia briefly reignited the contest moments later when Omar Rekik nodded home from close range in the 43rd minute, reducing the deficit and sending his side into the break with renewed hope.
Any thoughts of a Tunisian comeback were quickly extinguished after halftime.
Just before the hour mark, Isak turned creator as he slipped a pass into the path of Gyokeres, who produced an excellent finish to restore Sweden’s two-goal advantage. The goal highlighted the growing understanding between the two attackers, whose movement and link-up play repeatedly troubled the Tunisian defense.
As Tunisia pushed forward in search of a route back into the game, Sweden exploited the spaces left behind. Substitute Mattias Svanberg made an immediate impact, finding the net just 18 seconds after entering the field. Although the offside flag initially denied him, a lengthy VAR review determined that a slight touch from Isak had played the midfielder onside, allowing the goal to stand.
With the result already beyond doubt, Ayari delivered one final moment of brilliance deep into stoppage time. The midfielder struck another sensational effort from long range, this time celebrating freely after putting the finishing touch on one of the standout individual performances of the tournament so far.
The comprehensive victory leaves Sweden at the summit of Group F after Japan scored a late equalizer to secure a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands earlier in the day.
For Potter, the result represented the ideal start to the tournament. His team looked dangerous throughout, combining attacking flair with clinical finishing and showing the depth of talent available across the squad.
The performances of Isak and Gyokeres will be particularly encouraging. Isak finished with a goal and two assists, while Gyokeres added a goal and an assist of his own as the pair spearheaded Sweden’s relentless attack.
Tunisia, meanwhile, faces an uphill battle after suffering a heavy defeat in its opening match. Despite moments of promise, particularly before halftime, the North Africans struggled to contain Sweden’s movement and creativity over the full 90 minutes.
With confidence high and momentum firmly on their side, Sweden will now turn its attention to the next group-stage challenge knowing another positive result could move them significantly closer to the last 32.
