Monterrey, Jun 15 (V7N) - Graham Potter’s Sweden kicked off their FIFA World Cup Group F campaign with an authoritative statements, thrashing Tunisia 5-1 at the Monterrey Stadium on Monday (June 15). The victory extends the Blågult's impressive unbeaten streak in World Cup opening matches to five consecutive tournaments.

Despite qualifying through the grueling play-offs, the Swedes wasted no time proving they belong on football's biggest stage. Playing with a highly aggressive press from the opening whistle, Sweden asserted their dominance early, racing to a two-goal cushion within the first half-hour.

The breakthrough came in just the 7th minute when Tunisia goalkeeper Mouhib Chamakh failed to cleanly handle a deep long ball from defender Victor Lindelöf. Midfielder Yasin Ayari pounced on the loose ball, calmly slotting it into an empty net from 25 yards out. Sweden doubled their lead in the 30th minute following a lethal counter-attack, as Alexander Isak met a precise cross from Viktor Gyökeres to coolly head the ball past Chamakh.

Tunisia managed to claw their way back into the contest just before the interval. In the 42nd minute, defender Omar Rekik rose highest to head home a well-placed cross from Hannibal Mejbri, sending the teams into the tunnel at 2-1.

The North African side attempted to sustain that attacking pressure early in the second half, but their momentum was thoroughly derailed by a costly defensive blunder. In the 58th minute, Sweden capitalized on a loose error by Tunisian midfielder Ellyes Skhiri, allowing Gyökeres to intercept and fire home Sweden's third goal.

The closing stages of the match belonged to substitute Mattias Svanberg, who etched his name into the history books. Entering the pitch in the 83rd minute, the Wolfsburg midfielder scored just 18 seconds into his cameo with his very first touch—recording the second-fastest goal by a substitute in FIFA World Cup history.

To cap off the spectacular performance, Ayari found the back of the net once more deep into stoppage time (90+5'), completing his brace and sealing the emphatic 5-1 scoreline.

With the dominant three points secured, Graham Potter’s men sit comfortably atop Group F. However, a much stiffer challenge awaits them in their second group fixture against the Netherlands next Saturday. Conversely, Tunisia's miserable opening-match record at World Cups continues, leaving them desperate for a bounce-back performance when they face Japan.

END/SMA/AJ