Sweden thrash Tunisia 5–1, Lamouchi sacked

Sweden open with a 5–1 demolition

Sweden 5–1 Tunisia. That is how you open a World Cup. Alexander Isak got on the scoresheet and Graham Potter's side ran riot in Dallas, sending a message to the rest of the group (4). The same Sweden that scored more goals in this one match than in their entire qualifying group stage (4).

Lamouchi sacked after the Sweden thrashing

Tunisia's FA did not wait long. Sabri Lamouchi has been sacked after the 1–5 defeat to Sweden, with the decision confirmed in the hours following the match (1) (5) (7). The hammering was simply too much for the Tunisian federation to absorb.

Mellberg: 'We have problems' at the back

Olof Mellberg was blunt on SVT after the final whistle. "We have some problems with the defensive play," he said, despite the 5–1 scoreline (3). The warning is clear: tougher opponents will punish what Tunisia could not.

Stroud's parents miss his World Cup debut

Elliot Stroud made his senior Sweden debut in the World Cup opener, but his parents were not in the stadium. They are on a cruise. "They probably didn't think Sweden would go through, and then that I'd make the squad," Stroud said (2). He called the situation "dreadful" but took it in stride.

Zlatan picks Trump event over Sweden match

Zlatan Ibrahimovic chose a Trump event over Sweden's World Cup opener, and the criticism is coming in from Norwegian and Swedish outlets (6). The timing, as your team put five past Tunisia, has not gone unnoticed.

Fan reactions

Swedish fans on Reddit are buzzing about the goals, but there is also a quiet confidence in Potter's post-match words: "We know we're not the finished article, but that's also exciting as well." The stat that caught fire: more goals in this match than the entire qualifying group stage. Meanwhile, the Lamouchi sacking is being treated as the inevitable fallout it was. Read more on r/soccer