Sweden face scoring challenges without Gyokeres

Viktor Gyokeres is one of the trendiest strikers in European soccer. He will almost certainly leave Sporting CP this summer in search of a more demanding destination, where he will be able to prove whether he is ready for a big challenge or has been a team's flower.

What is becoming clear is the striker's impact on the Swedish national team. In the last 3 matches he has not been called up -all of them friendlies-, the Swedish team has left with 3 defeats, the last three of the national team.

It happened in the first match of the March international break. Sweden, despite having another great striker in Alexander Isak, lost 1-0 to an inferior Luxembourg.

The same thing had happened to Sweden before, albeit with two stronger teams. It was in the June break, when they faced Denmark (2-1) and Serbia (0-3), against whom they lost without the Sporting CP striker.

It is only a small sample but it is reflected in the results. With Gyokeres himself on the pitch, Sweden have not lost for nine games, against Portugal in March 2024.