Sweden Crush Tunisia 5-1 in World Cup Group F Opener

Sweden thrashed Tunisia 5-1 on Sunday in Guadalupe, Mexico, to take early control of World Cup Group F. The match began with a defensive mix-up by Tunisia, allowing Yasin Ayari to fire a thunderbolt from outside the box in the seventh minute. Ayari, who has Moroccan and Tunisian heritage, muted his celebration.

Alexander Isak doubled Sweden's lead on the half-hour mark after a rapid counter-attack. The Liverpool forward cut inside and shot, with goalkeeper Mouhib Chamakh failing to keep it out despite getting a hand to the ball. Just before halftime, Tunisia pulled one back when Omar Rekik headed home Hannibal Mejbri's cross.

Sweden restored their two-goal cushion in the 59th minute after another defensive calamity. Ellyes Skhiri was dispossessed on the edge of the box by Isak, who set up Viktor Gyokeres to score. Substitute Mattias Svanberg made it 4-1 following a VAR review for offside, and Ayari added his second with another stunning long-range strike.

Tunisia had not conceded a single goal in qualifying, becoming the first team to achieve that feat, but their defense fell apart against Sweden. Sweden, quarterfinalists in 2018, missed the 2022 tournament. Tunisia, the first African team to win a World Cup match in 1978, have never advanced past the group stage.