STOCKHOLM, April 7 - Less than a week after helping Sweden reach the World Cup with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Poland, midfielder Gustav Lundgren is out for the season after rupturing his Achilles tendon.
Lundgren, who set up Viktor Gyokeres for the 88th-minute winner, was warming up for his first league game of the season when the injury occurred. He will undergo surgery and rehabilitation, ruling him out of Sweden’s World Cup group stage matches against Tunisia, the Netherlands, and Japan.
The 30-year-old, once playing in Sweden's third tier in 2022, was a late addition to Graham Potter’s national squad. His disappointment was evident as he spoke to reporters after GAIS’s 1-0 loss to Djurgarden.
"I haven't really understood what happened or what it means," Lundgren said, leaving the arena on crutches.
Despite being a relative unknown, his impact on Sweden’s playoff success was significant. Now, his World Cup dreams hang in the balance.