World Cup duels at night
©IMAGO
Sweden returned to the World Cup stage with enthusiasm and a convincing win against Tunisia. The team around star striker Viktor Gyökeres from Arsenal FC and Liverpool’s Alexander Isak deservedly defeated the North Africans 5:1 (2:1).
In Monterrey, Mexico, Yasin Ayari scored the goals for the Scandinavians in the 7th minute and in injury time (90th + 6th), Isak (30th), Gyökeres (59th) and Mattias Svanberg in the final phase. They last took part in a World Cup finals in Russia in 2018. Omar Rekik scored for Tunisia (43′).
The Swedes, coached by Brit Graham Potter, got off to a dream start with a dream goal. Ayari slammed the ball under the crossbar. The hit gave security. Sweden exerted a lot of control and followed up after half an hour. Gyökeres put Isak in the spotlight and the former Dortmund player made it 2-0. Tunisia goalkeeper Abdelmouhib Chamakh didn’t look good with the low shot.
However, his team, which featured Union Berlin’s Rani Khedira and Frankfurt’s Ellyes Skhiri in the starting line-up, did not give up. In terms of football, Sweden was superior, but Tunisia fought and was rewarded. Even before the break, Rekik, who played for Hertha BSC in his youth, headed the ball home.
After the break, Tunisia initially got back into the game. A blatant mistake by Skhiri abruptly interrupted the hoped-for comeback. The 31-year-old lost the ball in front of his own penalty area in a duel with Isak and Gyökeres made it 3-1. The goal was a preliminary decision. Tunisia never recovered after another setback. Wolfsburg’s Svanberg, who had just come on as a substitute, made it 4-1 before Ayari scored again. In a strong group, the Netherlands and Japan are the other opponents for both teams. They previously drew 2-2.
Duel between DFB opponents: Ivory Coast defeats Ecuador late
Thanks to a last-minute goal from Joker Amad Diallo, Ivory Coast won the duel between Germany’s next two World Cup opponents. The West Africans beat Ecuador 1-0 (0-0) in a game with numerous chances and thus temporarily took second place in Group E behind the selection of national coach Julian Nagelsmann. Substitute Diallo scored in the 90th minute.
The intense game in front of 68,274 spectators in Philadelphia showed: In their further preliminary round games at the XXL tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico, the Germans are likely to be asked more – especially physically – than in the 7:1 (3:1) at the start against the blatant outsiders Curaçao. The German team will play against the Ivory Coast next Saturday in Toronto and against Ecuador at the end of the group phase on June 25th in East Rutherford.
Anyone who expected a duel between two defensive bulwarks was surprised. Both teams continually looked for a way forward in the first half. The Ecuadorians, who are otherwise known for their strong defensive work, were also unlucky twice with shots hitting the crossbar. First Hamburg-born John Yeboah hit the crossbar (16th), then Alan Minda (23rd).
The South American fans created a great atmosphere. Thousands of yellow jerseys could be seen in the stands of the stadium where the Philadelphia Eagles football team usually plays its home games. When the Ecuadorians crossed the halfway line, it immediately became loud in the stands.