Sweden's Late Drama Against Greece: Gyökeres Shines

Viktor Gyökeres bent a reminder of his ruthless form into the Stockholm night, as Sweden’s final tune‑up before the 2026 World Cup ended in late drama against Greece.

The striker, fresh from a prolific domestic campaign, stepped over a second-half free-kick and treated it like a penalty. One smooth run-up, one whipped right foot, and the ball curled beyond the wall and into the corner. Same conviction, different stage.

By then, Sweden had already been jolted. Liverpool defender Kostas Tsimikas had stunned the home crowd by striking first for Greece, punishing slack defending to give the visitors the lead. Gyökeres’ response steadied Sweden, and the hosts then turned the game on its head when Gustaf Nilsson nudged them in front, a reward for a spell of mounting pressure.

They could not quite close it out. Deep into stoppage time, in the 95th minute, Giorgos Masouras pounced with a late equaliser, silencing the Friends Arena and denying Sweden a winning send-off. The performance still offered encouragement: their main striker looks sharp, their set-piece threat is alive, but the warning about lapses at the back arrived right on the final whistle.

Merino wears the armband as Spain sign off at home

Across the continent in A Coruña, Spain also signed off in front of their own supporters with a 1-1 draw, this time against fellow World Cup qualifiers Iraq.

La Roja started with control and incision. Dani Olmo slipped Ferran Torres into space, and the forward did the rest, finishing to give Spain a deserved lead and a comfortable rhythm. Iraq refused to play the role of sparring partner. Merchas Doski spotted Joan Garcia off his line and punished him, levelling the game and jolting the Riazor crowd.

The second half became an exercise in rhythm and rotations, and it brought a small but telling moment. In the 68th minute, Mikel Merino replaced Alex Baena and, as the changes rolled in, took the captain’s armband late on. It was a nod to his growing stature in the squad on a night when the result mattered less than the minutes and the messages.

Spain now pack their bags for Mexico, heading to Puebla for a final warm-up against Peru. The farewell at home is done; the serious business is closing in.

O’Neill steps up for Northern Ireland

Away from the World Cup spotlight, one of Hale End’s brightest prospects quietly took his first senior international step.

Ceadach O’Neill, just 18, made his debut for Northern Ireland in a 1-0 win over Guinea at the Estadio Municipal de la Linea de la Concepción in Cadiz. The winger, who has already brushed against first-team action this season and impressed in Premier League 2 and the UEFA Youth League, entered as a second-half substitute, replacing Isaac Price in the 64th minute.

By then, the decisive moment was already on the board. Tom Atcheson had struck what proved to be the winner, and O’Neill’s task was to help see the job through, offering energy and composure in the closing stages of a tight friendly.

For the teenager, the significance lies not in the scoreline but in the shirt on his back and the level he has now reached. The next test comes quickly. Northern Ireland travel to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy to face France in Lille, where O’Neill could find himself lining up against one of his club’s established stars on a very different kind of stage.