VOTE: Do Sweden have the best attack at the 2026 World Cup with Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres?

Liverpool striker Isak was named man of the match after scoring his first goal at a major international tournament and providing two assists, while Arsenal’s Gyokeres bagged a goal and an assist.

Gyokeres now has 22 goal contributions in 15 appearances for Sweden since the start of 2024, while the victory was Sweden’s biggest at a World Cup since 1938.

Is Sweden’s strikeforce one to be feared at the tournament? And how does it compare with the attacking options available to the top contenders?

When Graham Potter was appointed as something of a firefighter manager in October, one of his key jobs was to reinvigorate Sweden’s attack.

Even with Isak and Gyokeres both playing, Sweden had failed to score in back-to-back matches against Kosovo and Switzerland, leading to Potter's predecessor Jon Dahl Tomasson being sacked.

Sweden did score twice in their final two qualifying games under Potter, but they didn’t win either, and finished their campaign with fewer goals (four) than they netted in 90 minutes against Tunisia.

Sweden clicked into gear in time for the play-offs as they scored three against Ukraine, all via Gyokeres, and then three against Poland. Neither game featured both Isak and Gyokeres.

In fact, the win over Tunisia was the first competitive game that Isak and Gyokeres had both featured in under Potter. They shone together, linking up well and both providing excellent finishes.

"They haven't played that much together, so it's going to get better," said Potter afterwards.

"I thought they worked well for each other, worked hard. It's nice for them to score goals. This convinces them that they are on the right path. I thought they were both fantastic."

Isak and Gyokeres had contrasting seasons at club level.

Isak netted just four goals in an injury-hit debut campaign for Liverpool, while Gyokeres was an important figure in Arsenal’s Premier League title win.

They had struggled to gel at times when played together under previous Sweden boss Tomasson, but looked compatible as they put Tunisia to the sword.

”I wouldn’t replace them with anyone,” said Sweden captain Victor Lindelof ahead of the game.

”I’m really happy to have the two of ‌them…I think they are two top-class ‌forwards, so it’s amazing to have ⁠them on our team.”

Few of the top contenders at the World Cup have the strike power that Isak and Gyokeres provide.

England have arguably the best striker at the tournament in Harry Kane, but he doesn’t play with a partner up front. Norway, with Erling Haaland, are in a similar position.

European champions Spain don’t have a star striker, Germany are led by playmaker-turned-striker Kai Havertz, Portugal will have 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo spearheading their attack, and Brazil’s only No. 9 after the omission of Joao Pedro from the squad is Igor Thiago.

Argentina are perhaps the closest to having the forward options to rival Sweden, with Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez, and Lionel Messi in their ranks.

It wasn’t just Isak and Gyokeres who impressed for Sweden against Tunisia.

Brighton & Hove Albion's Yasin Ayari scored twice, including a brilliant goal from the edge of the box, and Mattias Svanberg netted just 16 seconds after coming on.

Benjamin Nygren also impressed after an impressive season for Celtic in which he scored 21 goals across all competitions.

Sweden next play Netherlands on June 20, followed by Japan on June 26. Sweden are top of Group F after Netherlands and Japan drew 2-2 in their opening game.

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