Sweden go into their World Cup 2026 Group F opener against Tunisia with one clear selection worry and one big attacking call. Gabriel Gudmundsson is an illness doubt, while Graham Potter looks set to keep faith with Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres as the two up front.

Gudmundsson is the main fitness question

Potter is still waiting on Gudmundsson's availability, and there are no fresh injury problems beyond that uncertainty. Sweden are expected to line up in a 3-4-1-2 shape, with Alexander Bernhardsson on the opposite flank from Gudmundsson. The predicted XI also includes Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Isak Hien, Victor Lindelöf, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Jesper Karlstrom, Yasin Ayari and Benjamin Nygren.

That shape makes the left side the spot to watch. If Gudmundsson is fit, he matters immediately to how Sweden move the ball and how much support the front two get from wide areas.

Why Potter is backing Isak and Gyökeres

The bigger football call is up front. Sports Mole expect Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres to start together, and that is the right read for a team trying to turn possession into a quick start rather than a cautious opening.

Gyökeres has not looked explosive in his last five club outings, with a 6.7 average rating, but Potter does not need him to be spectacular if the structure behind him is right. Sweden's 3-4-1-2 is built to get both strikers close to goal quickly, and that is where the opener may be decided.

Tunisia are a reasonable test, not an easy one. They lost 5-0 to Belgium in their final warm-up friendly and have gone three successive games without scoring. They have also appeared at six World Cups without reaching the knockout stage, so the pressure on Sabri Lamouchi's side is obvious enough.

History leans Sweden's way too. They lead the head-to-head 2-1-1 across four meetings, and Sunday's match will be the first competitive one between the sides. If Gudmundsson clears the illness issue, Sweden will probably like the look of their starting position. If he does not, the opener becomes more awkward on the left than Potter would want.

The cleanest read is that Sweden's best route is still through Isak and Gyökeres. The left side is the concern, but the attack is where this match should be settled, and Potter has picked a setup that says as much.

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