After being eliminated from the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 by France, Sweden striker Viktor Gyökeres gave an interview to reporters in the mixed zone.
Viktor, describe the feeling after this loss and the end of Sweden's World Cup campaign.
It's heavy. We fought hard and gave our all. We defended very well in the first half. Of course, they had many dangerous chances. Sometimes we were a bit fortunate, but if we had been in better form, we could have kept the draw until halftime and maybe even scored a goal—then you're not sure how the game would have played out. But overall, they deserved to win, and we tried our best.
After the last game, we discussed how strong you are and that you don't receive many free kicks. It looked very similar today. How did it feel to play this match? What was your impression of the referee's decisions?
I think I got some free kicks early on. And it felt good. There were other situations, like being elbowed in the face, which maybe should have been one or two free kicks. But overall, I felt fine about it in that regard. We lost the game though, and I don't know if one or two more free kicks would have made much difference.
There's been much discussion about which formation suits you best and how to organize your team on the pitch. In the first half today, you looked more like a 4-4-2. Do you feel you've found an optimal setup, or should we expect you to adjust your formation in future matches depending on the opposition?
I don't know if changing formation would make a huge difference in our performance. I think the most important thing is that we play together as a unit. We've played several games together as a team without much experience in major tournaments, and with time, things will certainly improve. Of course, it also depends on which players are available and which formation is most suitable for a particular match.
You mentioned the team is still developing. What progress do you think you made during this FIFA World Cup?
I think the most important thing is that, looking at today's performance, both individually and as a team, we defended better. We created good chances for most of the game. So compared to earlier matches, our defense was clearly better, and we felt like we were playing as a cohesive unit. That said, it's hard to take much positivity from a three-goal loss.
What makes playing against France so difficult?
They rotate many players and move between different positions—their positioning is fluid. They know each other very well, they understand their runs, and they cooperate seamlessly. When they have that kind of quality and movement, the game is certainly very difficult. However, I think we defended well for a significant period. Of course, after a while, it's hard to maintain that level of defensive intensity for the full 90 minutes.
Sorry, one more question in English. What's your take on Mbappé? He's currently leading the World Cup scoring chart. As a striker, what would you say about him topping the charts? Has he said anything to you?
Yes, he's certainly a very good player. I don't need to tell him anything—he knows it himself. He's maintained this level for many years and has proven it again in this World Cup. He's undoubtedly an incredible player.
Viktor, your teammate Lindelöf said he hopes to continue playing for Sweden after the World Cup. What does that statement mean to you?
It means a lot. All of us hope he'll continue playing for the national team.
Viktor, you've talked about team cohesion and how much you're enjoying being together. After spending so many weeks together, what will it feel like to part ways?
Of course, it will be a significant change. We're together 24 hours a day, and suddenly we won't see each other for several weeks. That will feel very uncomfortable and sad. Parting ways is always difficult, especially since we didn't advance further in the World Cup together.
Viktor, it's certainly disappointing now, but looking ahead, what do you think of this national team? You have a good age structure, most players will stay, you've been through a World Cup together, and several players have gained experience in major tournaments.
Yes, I think that will help us a lot. We're all at a good age and have played quite a few games together. I feel that after this World Cup, we can't keep saying we need more time to adapt. We've played enough matches together by now. I believe we should be able to prove that we can perform better than we did this time.
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