MONTERREY, MX — Yasin Ayari turned heads as the unlikely hero in Sweden‘s impressive 5-1 victory over Tunisia, scoring two goals against his father’s homeland. Despite the surprise of his standout performance, coach Graham Potter emphasized that the Brighton midfielder is not an unknown talent on the international stage.
Born to a Tunisian father and Moroccan mother in Solna, Ayari marked his milestone with a remarkable half-volley from outside the penalty area for his first goal, showing restraint as he simply raised his hands amidst the celebrations of his teammates.
His second goal, scored in stoppage time and also from long range, was met with a jubilant celebration.
“He’s played plenty of matches in the Premier League. It’s not as if he appeared out of nowhere,” Potter remarked after the match.
“We have many talented players, and the challenge lies in creating a cohesive unit that highlights everyone’s strengths. Picking a team has been challenging lately,” he added.
At just 22 years and 251 days, Ayari has become the third-youngest Swedish player to score multiple goals in a World Cup match.
Other Swedish stars, including Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres, also added goals in the commanding performance at Estadio BBVA.
“It was a solid team effort that allowed Alex and Viktor to showcase their skills, which they did impressively. There were many positives to take away, especially in terms of our defensive stability,” stated Potter. “A 5-1 victory is a fantastic start to the tournament for us.”
On the synergy between Isak and Gyökeres, the coach noted that their partnership has room for growth as the tournament continues.
“They have only played together a handful of times—about seven matches. I believe they will only improve the more they play together. They complement each other well, each bringing unique qualities, and are both exceptional players who can pose a significant threat when united,” Potter explained.
Sweden’s victory marks their highest scoring match in a World Cup since 1938.
In contrast, Tunisia’s coach, Sabri Lamouchi, appeared disheartened after the defeat, acknowledging it was a challenging start to their World Cup campaign.
“This loss is difficult and painful. We made too many individual mistakes, and it’s hard to recover when facing a team with such quality. Five goals—it’s a heavy defeat,” he lamented.
Both teams will resume group play on June 20, with Sweden set to face the Netherlands in Houston, Texas, while Tunisia will compete against Japan at the same Estadio BBVA venue in Monterrey.