Leeds United injury absence continues but rival struggles in World Cup boost
A Leeds United defender’s chances of starting at the World Cup might have been boosted despite his absence.
Leeds United defender Gabriel Gudmundsson was not involved on Monday night as his Sweden side lost a World Cup warm-up game 3-1 against Norway.
Gudmundsson was named in Sweden’s 26-man World Cup squad last month despite being sidelined with a hamstring injury. The 27-year-old hasn’t featured since April’s FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea at Wembley, missing Leeds’ last four Premier League games as safety was secured.
Speaking after the squad announcement, Gudmundsson told Swedish media: “It’s nothing that I can comment on. I went a little behind. But I have had a good dialogue with the national team management and will be fully ready when the World Cup squad gathers on May 27.”
Sweden played the first of two pre-tournament friendlies on Monday night, losing 3-1 against a Norway side without Erling Haaland in Oslo after a first-half collapse. Leeds January target Jorgen Strand Larsen scored twice inside 37 minutes, with winger Antonio Nusa grabbing a goal for himself in between.
Substitute Alexander Isak pulled one back midway through the second-half but it was a disappointing performance for Sweden, whose manager Graham Potter made nine in-game changes. Interestingly, the only outfielder to play all 90 minutes was Gudmundsson’s main positional rival, Daniel Svensson.
Gabriel Gudmundsson’s position rival struggles in defeat
But the Borussia Dortmund defender struggled, with Swedish outlet Aftonbladet reporting he snubbed a post-match trip through the media mixed zone after having the ‘hardest time’ and receiving ‘harsh criticism’. Gudmundsson’s chances of a World Cup starting place might even have been boosted by his rival’s struggle, so long as he can get fit.
“It was a very tough night for us, of course,” Sweden boss Potter said. “Norway are ahead of us in terms of their game, how long they have worked together. We were not as good as we wanted to be, absolutely not. The first [half] is a huge disappointment, the second is better. We have to improve.”
Gudmundsson has only a couple more days to prove his fitness if he wants to play before the World Cup. Sweden host Greece in their final pre-tournament friendly on Thursday night before heading across to the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Sweden kick-off their World Cup campaign against Tunisia in Guadalupe, Mexico on June 15 before facing the Netherlands in Houston, Texas five days later. Gudmundsson’s side then head to Arlington in the same state for a final group stage meeting with Ao Tanka’s Japan on June 26.