Monterrey [Mexico], June 15 (ANI): Tunisia head coach Sabri Lamouchi called the team’s FIFA World Cup 2026 opener loss against Sweden “difficult" and “painful", according to Reuters. His team suffered a 1-5 loss to Sweden on Sunday (Local Time) as only Omar Rekik was able to find the net.
Tunisia endured a difficult outing, with several costly mistakes proving decisive. Goalkeeper Mouhib Chamakh was responsible for Sweden’s opening goal in the 18th minute after misjudging a long clearance, while captain Ellyes Skhiri committed an error that led directly to Viktor Gyokeres’s strike in the 59th minute.
In the match, Sweden’s Yasin Ayari opened and completed the scoring, and substitute Mattias Svanberg also scored a goal. It was Alexander Isak and Gyokeres who consistently troubled Tunisia’s back line throughout the match. For Tunisia, Rekik was the only name on the scoresheet.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Lamouchi expressed his disappointment with the result, describing the defeat as “difficult" and “painful" and admitting that beginning the tournament with such a heavy loss was a difficult setback for his team.
“It’s a difficult loss. It’s painful. Starting the competition with this bad of a loss is indeed difficult," Lamouchi said as quoted by Reuters.
He rued the mistakes in the field committed by the team, saying, “We made way too many mistakes."
After the 1-5 defeat, Tunisia now face mounting pressure as they prepare to take on Japan next.
Coming to the match, Graham Potter’s side made a blistering start and took control of the contest with two goals inside the opening half-hour.
A mistake by Tunisia goalkeeper Chamakh allowed Sweden to take the lead after he misjudged a long clearance from Victor Lindelof. Following a blocked effort from Viktor Gyokeres, the rebound fell to Yasin Ayari, who scored into an empty net from distance.
Sweden doubled their lead in the 30th minute when Gyokeres set up Alexander Isak on a quick counterattack, and the striker calmly finished past Chamakh to make it 2-0.
Tunisia, however, refused to fold and found a way back into the match just before halftime. Omar Rekik escaped his marker to head home a floated delivery from Hannibal Mejbri, giving the Eagles of Carthage renewed hope heading into the break.
Sweden effectively ended any hopes of a Tunisian comeback when Isak capitalised on a mistake by captain Ellyes Skhiri and set up Gyokeres, who scored from close range to restore a two-goal advantage.
Although Hannibal Mejbri continued to threaten with his creativity, Tunisia struggled to contain Sweden’s attacking intensity in the closing stages.
Svanberg added a fourth goal with a composed finish inside the area before Ayari completed his brace in spectacular fashion, driving home from outside the box to cap a commanding Swedish performance.
The convincing win gives Sweden an ideal start ahead of a crucial Group F clash against the Netherlands, who drew 2-2 with Japan in their opening match. (ANI)
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