Stunned in Stoppage Time: Greece denies Sweden in World Cup send-off

Viktor Gyökeres and Gustaf Nilsson orchestrated a second-half comeback for Graham Potter’s side, but a 94th-minute equalizer from Giorgos Masouras spoiled the hosts' farewell party.

Photo: Claudio Bresciani

The final preparation phase for the 2026 FIFA World Cup offers no margin for defensive complacency, a lesson the Sweden national team learned in the most painful manner. In their final performance on domestic soil in Stockholm, Graham Potter’s squad failed to protect a hard-fought second-half advantage, settling for a frustrating 2-2 draw against Greece. The result leaves mixed feelings within the Scandinavian camp just hours before they depart for North America to establish their official training base in Texas.

The fixture opened under difficult circumstances for the hosts, who were looking to bounce back from a disappointing 3-1 defeat against Norway last week. Greece unpicked the Swedish backline early in the 9th minute through a clinical set-piece routine. Konstantinos Tsimikas connected with a powerful strike following an accurate corner delivery from Christos Tzolis, establishing a 1-0 lead that allowed the visitors to control the defensive tempo throughout the opening 45 minutes.

Sweden re-entered the pitch with a significantly more aggressive tactical blueprint for the second half. The crucial equalizer was sparked by their premier offensive star, Viktor Gyökeres. The clinical forward had joined the national team camp only on Wednesday, carrying the immense physical toll of having played for Arsenal in Saturday's UEFA Champions League Final against Paris Saint-Germain. Just over 24 hours after linking up with the squad, in the 52nd minute, Gyökeres unleashed a powerful free-kick that deflected off Vangelis Pavlidis, wrong-footing the goalkeeper to make it 1-1.

The momentum energized Potter’s schematic variations, prompting substitutions to sustain the offensive press. The strategic adjustments yielded immediate dividends in the 68th minute when substitute Taha Ali delivered a precise low cross into the box for Gustaf Nilsson, who finished with composure to complete the 2-1 turnaround for the home side.

However, a critical lack of positional discipline inside the penalty area during stoppage time ruined the celebration. In the 94th minute, during Greece’s final offensive wave, Giorgos Masouras capitalizó on a communication breakdown in the box to slot the ball home, securing the definitive 2-2 draw. Following the final whistle, Sweden must quickly iron out their defensive errors as they travel to their base camp at the FC Dallas Stadium. Their Group F campaign official begins on Sunday, June 14, against Tunisia at the Monterrey Stadium in Mexico, followed by high-stakes clashes against the Netherlands in Houston and Japan in Dallas.