Sweden vs Tunisia: Potter's Strikeforce Meets the Defence That Never Conceded
by Geoffrey Ejiga | by Geoffrey Ejiga
A Must-Win for Both Sides in Group F
Group F pairs the Netherlands and Japan as favourites, leaving Sweden and Tunisia to fight for what could realistically be one remaining qualification spot. The expanded 48-team format means the best third-placed teams can still advance, but neither side will want to rely on that safety net.
The earlier kick-off on Sunday sees the Netherlands and Japan face off in Arlington, Texas. By the time Sweden and Tunisia walk out at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, both will already know whether a gap has opened above them or whether the group is set for a four-way scramble.
Sweden: Bottom of the Group to Playoff Heroes
Sweden's road to this tournament was as chaotic as any in European qualifying. Under former manager Jon Dahl Tomasson, they finished rock bottom of Group B with one point from four matches, losing to Kosovo, Switzerland and Slovenia along the way.
Graham Potter, appointed in October 2025 after stints at Brighton, Chelsea and West Ham, inherited a squad low on belief. His Nations League ranking lifeline gave Sweden a playoff route, and they seized it with back-to-back wins over Ukraine (3-1 away) and Poland (3-2 at home) in March.
Viktor Gyökeres, who’s fresh from winning the Premier League with Arsenal and playing in the Champions League final, scored in both legs.
For Tunisia, Sweden’s firepower is undeniable. Gyökeres and Alexander Isak of Liverpool form one of the most dangerous strike partnerships at the tournament.
But Isak endured a frustrating first season at Anfield after his record-breaking transfer, missing months with a broken fibula. Potter has said the challenge is getting him to peak form for these three weeks.
Inexperience in the Ranks
Beyond the front two, this is one of the least experienced squads in Mexico. Captain Victor Lindelöf is the only player who has appeared at a previous World Cup (four games in Russia 2018).
Tottenham's Dejan Kulusevski, who would have added experience and creativity, has been out since last May with a knee injury and did not make the squad.
Sweden's warmup results did little to settle nerves: a 3-1 defeat to Norway and a 2-2 draw with Greece, where they needed a Gyökeres free-kick to get back into the match.
Tunisia: A Perfect Record Falling Apart at the Worst Time
Tunisia's qualifying campaign belongs in the record books after nine wins and one draw from ten matches in CAF Group H, with 22 goals scored and none conceded.
No team had ever reached the World Cup finals with a perfect defensive record across a full qualifying campaign.
That record was built under Sami Trabelsi, who was sacked after a round-of-16 exit at the Africa Cup of Nations to Mali earlier this year. Sabri Lamouchi replaced him in January and has managed just four matches since taking charge.
He is still learning the names of some of his own players. But the warmup form has been alarming.A 1-0 defeat to Austria, where Tunisia hit the post three times before losing, was followed by a 5-0 hammering at the hands of Belgium in Brussels. The Eagles of Carthage conceded six goals conceded in two friendlies from a team that let in zero across ten qualifiers.
