By Daniel Akinte
Few things in football change as quickly as momentum, and Sweden found that out the hard way at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Swedes began their campaign in sensational fashion, brushing aside Tunisia 5-1 in a performance that had fans dreaming big.
Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres were at the heart of the demolition job, combining for two goals and three assists as Sweden’s attack looked unstoppable. Their sharp movement, clinical finishing, and overall dominance immediately sparked talk of a potential deep run in the tournament.
After such an impressive start, confidence within the Swedish camp was understandably sky-high.
But football has a way of bringing teams back down to earth.
In their next outing, Sweden came up against the Netherlands and suffered a reality check. The Dutch turned the tables in emphatic style, handing Sweden a crushing 5-1 defeat—the exact scoreline Sweden had inflicted on Tunisia just days earlier.
Crysencio Summerville put the finishing touch on the victory with a late goal as the Netherlands exposed Sweden’s defensive frailties and completely changed the narrative surrounding the Scandinavian side.
The contrast between Sweden’s first two matches could hardly have been more dramatic. One game saw them praised as one of the tournament’s most exciting teams; the next left them searching for answers after a heavy defeat.
That’s the beauty and brutality of the World Cup. In the space of a few days, Sweden went from flying high to facing serious questions about their consistency and ability to respond under pressure.