Gyökeres Shines in Sweden's Draw Against Greece Before World Cup
Viktor Gyökeres bent a free-kick into the Stockholm night and reminded everyone why defenders dread seeing his name on a teamsheet.
Fresh from a prolific domestic campaign, the Sweden striker struck again in his country’s final warm-up before the 2026 World Cup, salvaging a 2-2 draw against Greece and sharpening his edge just when Janne Andersson would have wanted it most.
Gyökeres on target as Sweden held late
At Friends Arena, it was the visitors who landed the first blow. Liverpool defender Kostas Tsimikas pushed forward from left-back and opened the scoring, silencing the home crowd and handing Greece an early grip on the game.
Sweden needed a response. Gyökeres provided it.
Given a dead-ball opportunity in the second half, the forward stepped up and wrapped his right foot around the free-kick, curling it beyond the wall and into the net. One clean strike, and Sweden were level, their leading man picking up exactly where he left off in club colours.
The momentum shifted. With Greece rocked, Gustaf Nilsson pounced to put the hosts in front, turning the evening into the kind of test managers crave before a major tournament: a match that demands control, composure, and a ruthless finish.
Sweden couldn’t quite close it out. Deep into stoppage time, in the 95th minute, Giorgos Masouras found the equaliser for Greece, snatching a draw and denying the Swedes a statement win. The late blow stung, but Gyökeres’ sharpness and Sweden’s attacking threat offered plenty of encouragement heading into the World Cup.
Merino wears the armband as Spain sign off at home
Across the continent in A Coruña, Spain also signed off from home soil with a draw, sharing a 1-1 result with fellow World Cup qualifiers Iraq.
La Roja started with authority. Ferran Torres broke the deadlock, finishing after clever work from Dani Olmo, and the hosts looked set to give their supporters a comfortable send-off.
Then came a lapse. Merchas Doski caught goalkeeper Joan Garcia off guard and levelled the match, punishing Spain’s momentary switch-off and dragging Iraq back into it.
The second half brought a different kind of story. On 68 minutes, Mikel Merino replaced Alex Baena and, as the game wore on, took the captain’s armband. It was a subtle but telling detail: a senior figure trusted to steer a young, evolving side through a tight contest, even if the breakthrough never came.
Spain’s farewell to their home fans ended without a winner, but not without significance. Next stop: Mexico, where they face Peru in Puebla in their final tune-up before the real scrutiny begins.
O’Neill steps up on senior debut
Away from the World Cup build-up, one of Hale End’s brightest prospects took an important step of his own.
Ceadach O’Neill, just 18, made his senior debut for Northern Ireland in a 1-0 win over Guinea, a milestone moment for a winger who has been edging closer to the spotlight all season. Having already appeared in first-team squads and impressed in Premier League 2 and the UEFA Youth League, he finally crossed the line into full international football.
The chance came in the second half at the Estadio Municipal de la Linea de la Concepción in Cadiz. O’Neill replaced Isaac Price in the 64th minute, with Northern Ireland protecting a narrow lead after Tom Atcheson had struck the decisive goal.
From there, it was about game management, discipline, and showing he belonged at that level. On debut, that experience matters as much as any touch of the ball.
The next assignment could be even bigger. Northern Ireland now travel to Lille to face France at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, where O’Neill may find himself up against another of his club’s emerging stars on one of European football’s grander stages.
