Sweden and Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres has reflected on playing at the World Cup for the first time in his career and also believes that the French National Team is good to win the trophy, www.aclsports.com reports.
The experience ended on a sour note for Gyokeres and Sweden as they fell 3-0 to France in the round of 32 on Tuesday. However, the striker, who got a goal and two assists against Tunisia on his World Cup debut, will never forget his experience in the land of apple pie.
“It can’t get much bigger than the World Cup,” he told FIFA. “It’s incredible and I’m very proud.”
“They’re the reason we’re here,” said Gyokeres gratefully about the Sweden fans. “We can’t do this without them. I’m sorry we couldn’t make more of this tournament.”
Gyokeres especially wants to compete against the elite at the World Cup 2030 in Morocco, Portugal and Spain.
“We’re a new team,” he remarked. “We haven’t played in a big tournament before, or at least I only think one of us has. We’re a new team compared to a lot of others. France have played a lot together in tournaments before. I think we have extremely talented players. With time, I think we’re going to be very, very good,” the Arsenal man concluded.
On the prospects of France winning the tournament, Gyokeres believes they are in with a shot of going all the way.
“Attacking-wise, they’re very well connected,” he said. “They know each other well, you can see it, you can feel it on the pitch. If they keep going like this and keep their defence organised – if they don’t let the opposition create so much – I think they will go very far, for sure. They’re a very good team.”
