Isak and Gyokeres fire Sweden to 5-1 rout of Tunisia in World Cup opener

Sweden announced themselves as genuine World Cup contenders with a commanding 5-1 victory over Tunisia in Monterrey, with Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres, and a brace from Yasin Ayari doing the damage in Graham Potter’s side’s tournament opener.

Ayari, who has Tunisian heritage but chose to represent Sweden, set the tone inside seven minutes, rifling in from outside the box after goalkeeper Mouhib Chamakh had beaten Isak to a ball over the top and Gyokeres’ follow-up was blocked. It was a sharp, composed finish that belied the occasion.

Isak, returning to form after an injury-disrupted first season at Liverpool, doubled the lead before the half-hour mark. Released on the left by a swift counterattack, he cut inside and curled a precise finish into the far corner as Chamakh misjudged his dive. Tunisia gave themselves hope just before the break when Omar Rekik headed in a cross from Hannibal Mejbri to make it 2-1, but Sweden’s control was never seriously threatened.

The third goal arrived just before the hour and owed much to Isak’s pressing. He dispossessed Tunisia captain Ellyes Skhiri on the edge of the box and fed Gyokeres, who had the time and composure to finish comfortably. It was a goal that underlined Sweden’s intensity without the ball as much as their quality with it.

The scoring was completed in the closing stages. Substitute Mattias Svanberg added a fourth seconds after coming on, with VAR overturning an initial offside call after ruling that a slight flick from Isak had played him onside. Ayari then wrapped up the scoring with his second, again capitalising on a loose ball outside the box.

Tunisia had arrived at the tournament with an impressive qualifying record, having not conceded a single goal on the road to the finals. That defensive solidity was dismantled comprehensively, with Sweden’s movement and directness exposing them at every turn.

For Potter, it was the kind of opening statement that will draw attention from the other sides in the competition. Sweden’s blend of Premier League quality — Isak at Liverpool, Gyokeres at Arsenal, Ayari at Brighton — gave them a cutting edge that few teams in the tournament will be able to match.