Gyökeres Urges Near‑Perfect Defence Against France
Sweden striker Viktor Gyökeres has warned that his side will need an almost flawless defensive display if they are to shock tournament favourites France in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32.
Having secured a place in the knockout stage by finishing third in Group F – one of the best third‑placed teams – Sweden now faces one of the strongest remaining sides in the competition.
Speaking from Sweden’s training camp in Dallas, Gyökeres acknowledged the magnitude of the challenge but expressed confidence that the Blågult can pull off an upset.
Despite an inconsistent group‑stage campaign – a 5‑1 win over Tunisia followed by a 5‑1 loss to the Netherlands – the Arsenal forward said the surprise results seen throughout the tournament have boosted the squad’s belief.
“We will have to be at our best, we have to do our defensive organisation almost perfect and then of course take the chances we will get,” he said.
“We have our confidence. I think we have to believe in ourselves.”
“We’ve seen in a lot of games this tournament that you can win games as underdogs. You can do well even though you play against the best teams.”
“Of course we might be the underdogs, but we still believe in ourselves.”
Gyökeres is also set for a reunion with his Arsenal teammate William Saliba when Sweden meet the French defenders.
“I’m looking forward to seeing him and playing against him – it’s going to be fun,” he added.
France arrive at the tie in impressive form, having won all three group matches. Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé have each netted four goals, underlining why Les Bleus are among the leading contenders for the world title.
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