Viktor Gyökeres is not walking into Sweden’s World Cup knockout match with any illusions. The forward has said plainly that Sweden needs to be “almost perfect defensively” to have any realistic chance against France in their Round of 32 fixture at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
What Gyökeres actually said, and why it matters
The match is scheduled following the conclusion of the group stage on June 29, 2026, as part of the expanded 48-team tournament hosted across North America.
Sweden qualified for the knockout phase as one of the best third-placed teams. The striker’s hat-tricks during the European qualifying play-offs put the country in the tournament in the first place.
France, Mbappé, and the challenge Sweden is walking into
