08/06/2026

SPORTS MONDAY | JUNE 8, 2026

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2026 WORLD CUP

Sweden bidding to make most of back-door entry

SWEDEN are hoping a strikeforce featuring Premier League stars Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres can fire them through a tricky World Cup Group F, after they scraped into the tournament without winning a single group game in qualifying. Graham Potter’s side will take on the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia in North America, bidding to extend their run of reaching the knockout phase at each of the past four World Cups they have qualified for. Sweden took an unusual path to the finals, collecting just two points from six matches in a disastrous campaign that saw them finish rock bottom of their group. But their Uefa Nations League performance allowed them the opportunity of sneaking into the expanded 48-team tournament through the playoffs, which they took by beating Ukraine before a dramatic 3-2 victory over Poland. The last time the Scandinavians played at a World Cup was also via a playoff win, over Italy, and they went on to make the 2018 quarterfinals in Russia before losing to England. That was Sweden’s best

international football, but at the same time, you have to have a belief that you can win any game,” Potter told Reuters after selecting his 26 man squad for the tournament. “It’s trying to find that balance, it’s trying to have that humility and that belief, and then within that, there are things that you need to do to win the game.” The key to Potter’s success has been taking a one-game-at-a-time approach while simplifying the messages communicated to players. Tottenham Hotspur’s Dejan Kulusevski will miss the tournament through injury, so much of the attacking burden will likely fall on the shoulders of strikers Gyokeres and Isak, and playmaker Lucas Bergvall. Getting off to a strong start will be key for the Swedes if they wish to progress to the knockout stage. Having been at the helm for only a handful of games, Potter is keenly aware of how little time he has had to work with his players as they head into arguably the biggest challenge of his coaching career. “Are we together as a team, and then are we helping the

Liverpool following his big-money move from Newcastle.

“It was a damaged team. In more ways than one, literally. This shows how football can change. But it’s darkest before the dawn,” Potter said. “As a coach, I have to create

“It has been tough of course, the autumn was incredibly tough, one of the darkest places we have been,” said midfielder Lucas Bergvall. “But now that we saw the light at the end of the tunnel against Ukraine, we have been incredibly good, working as a team.” Sweden travel to the

the right environment. Try to help players build courage and remove fear, and always try to have fun.” Gyokeres has started to find form for Arsenal and followed a hattrick against Ukraine with the memorable late winner against Poland, while Isak is still seeking full fitness after an injury blighted first campaign at

World Cup aiming to show the world that rumours of their demise as a footballing nation are greatly exaggerated. “We know

individuals show their best quality? I think, if we can do that, then we’ve got a chance to be successful,” Potter said. Sweden get their tournament under way against Tunisia in Guadalupe, Mexico, on June 15 (10am Malaysian time),

performance in the event since finishing third, in the United States, 32 years ago. Despite their woes in

qualifying, which saw previous coach Jon Dahl Tomasson sacked last October, hopes are high of a deep run under Potter. The Englishman, who made his name at Swedish club Ostersunds, took over the national team shortly after being fired by Premier League side West Ham.

that it’s not easy winning games in

before facing the Netherlands in Houston six days later and Japan in Arlington, Texas on June 26.

Viktor

Gyokeres

Tunisia seek fresh start under Lamouchi

TUNISIA carry quiet momentum into the 2026 World Cup after cruising through qualifying without conceding a single goal, but familiar doubts remain over whether their disciplined approach can trouble the game’s elite on the global stage. Drawn alongside the Netherlands, Japan and Sweden in Group F, Tunisia once again look set to rely on defensive organisation and tactical consistency, qualities that have long made them one of Africa’s most resilient sides. However, recent performances have reinforced concerns about their lack of attacking edge against stronger opposition, with Tunisia continuing to depend more on collective discipline than individual brilliance. Coach Sabri Lamouchi has responded by beginning a cautious reshaping of an ageing squad ahead of the finals, leaving out established veterans including midfielder Ferjani Sassi and defender Yassine Meriah as he looks to refresh the team. “These decisions were not easy; on the contrary, they were extremely difficult,” Lamouchi was quoted as saying by Fifa.com after naming his squad. “But I am not looking to make simple decisions, nor am I looking to select players to please anyone other than the Tunisian people – neither now nor during the tournament.” Instead, Lamouchi has turned to new faces and younger profiles as he attempts to inject greater

energy without sacrificing the defensive solidity that underpinned Tunisia’s qualification campaign. Among the notable additions is Union Berlin midfielder Rani Khedira, the 32-year-old brother of former Germany international Sami Khedira, who switched allegiance earlier this year after spending his entire professional career in Germany. The French coach has also recalled several younger players, including Paris St Germain striker Khalil Ayari and Canada-based forward Rayan Elloumi, signalling a gradual transition rather than a complete rebuild. Still, Tunisia’s hopes may depend heavily on Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri, one of the few players capable of producing moments of creativity and unpredictability in the final third. The 23-year-old, who came through Manchester United’s academy before moving to Burnley, is expected to shoulder much of Tunisia’s attacking responsibility during the tournament. Tunisia’s pragmatic style has often made them difficult opponents in African competition, but their World Cup record remains modest. They have appeared at six previous World Cups but never advanced beyond the group stage. Navigating a group containing the Netherlands, Japan and Sweden may ultimately reveal whether Lamouchi’s gradual rebuild has given Tunisia enough quality and dynamism to compete beyond their traditional role as stubborn outsiders.

Hannibal Mejbri