Leeds United’s Gabriel Gudmundsson still out as Sweden rival struggles in World Cup warm-up | OneFootball

Leeds United left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson sat out again as Sweden lost 3-1 to Norway in Oslo. Aftonbladet reported that his positional rival Daniel Svensson endured the toughest evening and skipped the post-match mixed zone. That display could help Gudmundsson’s starting hopes if he proves his fitness.

Norway were without Erling Haaland, yet they raced ahead during a first-half collapse from Sweden. Leeds January target Jorgen Strand Larsen struck twice inside 37 minutes, with Antonio Nusa scoring in between. Substitute Alexander Isak reduced the deficit midway through the second half.

Graham Potter made nine in-game changes, and the only outfielder to play all 90 minutes was Svensson, a Borussia Dortmund defender. Gudmundsson, meanwhile, was named in Sweden’s 26-man World Cup squad last month despite a hamstring injury.

He has not played since April’s FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea at Wembley, missing Leeds’ final four Premier League matches as safety was secured. After the squad announcement, he said he could not comment in detail, had fallen a little behind, and expected to be ready when the group assembled on 27 May.

Gudmundsson has only a couple of days to prove his fitness before the tournament. Sweden host Greece on Thursday, then travel to the USA, Canada and Mexico. They kick off against Tunisia in Guadalupe, Mexico on 15 June, face the Netherlands in Houston five days later, then meet Ao Tanka’s Japan in Arlington on 26 June.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk