14/06/2026

theSun on Sunday JUNE 14, 2026

2026 WORLD CUP

SPORTS 12

Sweden banking on Isak, Gyokeres SWEDEN will look to unleash the attacking

makes them slight favourites, Tunisia’s recent record suggests they will not be easy to break down. The Eagles of Carthage have under gone a gradual squad refresh under Lamouchi, with younger players being introduced alongside established inter nationals as the team seeks a fresh spark on the global stage. With heavyweight rivals the Netherlands and Japan also lurking in Group F, both teams know that avoiding defeat in their opening match could prove crucial in the race for a place in the knockout rounds. For Sweden, victory would validate Potter’s rebuilding job. For Tunisia, a positive result would strengthen hopes of finally making history by advancing beyond the World Cup group stage for the first time. – Agencies

collective organisation. The North Africans have qualified for a third con secutive World Cup and are hoping to finally break through the group stage barrier after six previous appearances ended in first-round exits. Lamouchi acknowledged the chal lenge posed by Sweden’s attacking weapons but remains confident in his team’s defensive foundations. “That defensive performance in quali fying shows you’re a great side that, above all, defends well as a team, even if the World Cup will be a higher level altogether,” Lamouchi said. “The teams we’re going to face will make much more difficult demands of us, at a much higher level of intensity, and we’ll have to stand up and be counted.” While Sweden’s attacking quality

ing the decisive goal in the playoff victory over Poland, while Isak remains one of Europe’s most gifted attackers despite an injury-disrupted club season. Potter believes his side has the quality to make a strong start but remains wary of Tunisia’s defensive organisation. “We know that it’s not easy winning games in international football, but at the same time, you have to have a belief that you can win any game,” Potter told Reuters ahead of the clash. The former Chelsea manager also backed Isak to make a major impact despite recent fitness concerns. “Alex has had a difficult spell because of injury, but the player doesn’t change, his quality doesn’t change – he’s still a top, top, top player,” Potter said. Tunisia coach Sabri Lamouchi has built his side around defensive discipline and

talents of Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres when they open their 2026 World Cup Group F campaign against Tunisia in Monterrey tomorrow (10am Malaysian time), but coach Graham Potter expects a stern examination from one of the tournament’s most disciplined defensive sides. The Scandinavians arrive at the World Cup with renewed optimism after navi gating a difficult qualification route, while Tunisia come into the tournament carry ing the remarkable record of reaching the finals without conceding a single goal during qualifying. Much of the spotlight will fall on Sweden’s prolific forward partnership of Isak and Gyokeres. Gyokeres was instrumental in securing Sweden’s place at the tournament, scor

Decisive showdown Ivory Coast, Ecuador set for crucial Group E battle I VORY COAST and Ecuador will launch their World Cup Group E campaigns tomorrow (7am Malaysian time) in a match that could prove decisive in the battle for a place in the knockout rounds. With Germany widely regarded as front of the back four has been instrumental in Ecuador recording 13 clean sheets during qualifying. However, Ecuador’s defensive resilience faces a stern examination after a series of impressive results, in cluding victories over South Korea, Scotland and France in recent months. Emerse Fae’s side also com pleted their African qualify ing campaign without Diallo and Simon Adingra, while teenage forward Yan Diomande has emerged as one of the team’s most promising weapons. The squad has also been strength ened by the addi

Bonny and Elye Wahi, who recently switched allegiance to the West African nation. Fae has made no secret of his ambitions for the tournament. “Why not aim for the final?” the Ivory Coast coach said recently when discussing his team’s prospects, reflecting the growing belief within the African champions’ camp. Ecuador, meanwhile, are hoping to build on the success of a genera tion that has already delivered one of the country’s strongest qualifying campaigns. Their best World Cup perform ance remains a last 16 appearance in 2006, but expectations are rising that this squad can go even further. The encounter is expected to be a fascinating tactical battle between Ecuador’s organised defensive structure and Ivory Coast’s pace and creativity in attack. While goals could be difficult to come by, the stakes are enormous for two nations harbouring ambi tions of progressing deep into the tournament. For Ecuador, victory would extend an impressive unbeaten streak and strengthen hopes of another knockout-stage appearance. For Ivory Coast, it would mark a significant step towards reaching the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time in their history. – Agencies

tion of former France youth internationals Ange-Yoan

conceding a goal, underlining their

against an Ivory Coast side brim ming with attacking talent. The Ivorians are returning to the World Cup for the first time since 2014 and

favourites to top the group, both teams know that securing three points in their opening fixture could provide a significant advantage in the race for qualification. The clash pits two of the tourna ment’s most disciplined defensive sides against each other. Ecuador arrive in the United States unbeaten in 19 matches, a run stretching back to September 2024, and have con ceded only six goals during that period. The South Americans finished second in the notoriously demand ing Conmebol qualifying cam paign, behind only reigning world champions Argentina. Coach Sebastian

growing confidence ahead of the tourna ment. Ivory Coast’s attack is spear headed by excit ing young talents Amad

arrive in high spir its

Beccacece has built his side around a formida ble defensive unit fea

turing Paris Saint Germain defender Willian Pacho, Arsenal’s Piero Hincapie and Chelsea mid fielder Moises Caicedo, whose presence in

Emerse Fae

Sebastian

Beccacece

How Potter led adopted country into the 2026 World Cup

BY LAWRENCE OSTLERE

Brighton, Chelsea and West Ham, where he experienced both triumph and dis appointment. “The learnings you have from those experiences are painful,” Potter said. “It’s hurt me to get them. But that’s how you improve.” Now he faces a new challenge at the World Cup, where Sweden will meet Tunisia, the Netherlands and Japan in Group E. Led by the strike partnership of Alexander Isak and Gyokeres, Sweden hope to spring a surprise. Yet whatever happens in North America, Potter believes the night Sweden qualified may never be sur passed. “I will never forget that night in Stockholm,” he said. “It was the best night of my career.” – The Independent

Poland in Stockholm to secure qualifica tion. “How many times do you get a chance to play a playoff game in front of your own people to go to the World Cup?” Potter said. “The country stops, everyone is watching.” The achievement held special signifi cance for Potter, whose coaching repu tation was forged in Sweden. During seven remarkable years at Ostersund, he guided the club from the fourth tier to Swedish Cup glory and Europa League football. “My kids were born in Sweden, two of them were,” he said. “I had seven unbe lievable years there. I’ve got an incredi ble amount to be grateful to the country for.” Success in Sweden led to jobs at

have two days to prepare for a game. What matters is getting the players on the pitch that have the best chance of winning.” After replacing Jon Dahl Tomasson, Potter endured a difficult start as Sweden lost heavily to Switzerland before drawing with Slovenia. Their final opportunity came through the Nations League playoffs. Over the next four months, Potter trav elled across Europe meeting players and building relationships. Working closely with assistants Bjorn Hamberg and Sebastian Larsson, as well as set piece coach Andreas Georgson, he meticulously prepared for the playoffs. The work paid off. Viktor Gyokeres struck a hattrick in a semifinal victory over Ukraine before Sweden defeated

A FEW minutes after Sweden sealed their place at the World Cup, manager Graham Potter gathered his players in a huddle. “Look at this, this is a team,” he said, before adding with a grin: “And we’re going to the World Cup, baby!” The remark summed up Potter’s chal lenge since taking charge last October. Appointed after Sweden’s disastrous qualifying campaign, he was given one mission: get the team to the World Cup. With only a handful of international windows and limited preparation time, Potter knew there was little scope to implement complex tactical ideas. “You haven’t got the time to develop ideas,” he said. “The reality is that you