In this international fixture during the FIFA break, we saw Stoke City’s goalkeeper, Viktor Johansson, facing a tough game for Sweden. The 26-year-old keeper continues to have the full confidence of Sweden’s coach, Jon Dahl Tomasson, following an excellent performance in the last international window.
Johansson was a key player in Sweden's recent victories, and for this match, he again started as the first-choice goalkeeper in what turned out to be a difficult encounter for Sweden as they faced Slovakia. The match ended in a hard-fought draw.
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Viktor Johansson in Action in the UEFA Nations League
Sweden, playing in Group C, took on Slovakia in a highly challenging game. Sweden came out with all their attacking power, aiming to break down Slovakia's solid defense. In the first half, Sweden looked in control, taking the lead with a 25th-minute goal by Yasin Ayari. Shortly after, Ken Sema made it 2-0 in the 32nd minute, giving Sweden a nearly perfect start, as they seemed on track for a win.
However, Slovakia mounted an offensive push just before halftime. David Strelec scored for Slovakia in the 44th minute, reducing Sweden’s lead to 2-1 as the teams headed to the break. In the second half, Sweden remained dominant, but they struggled to convert their chances. Then, in the 72nd minute, Slovakia found the equalizer through David Strelec once again, leveling the match at 2-2. Viktor Johansson had little chance to prevent the goals, facing a tough day in goal.
Tack för stödet i går, både på plats och hemifrån 💛💙 pic.twitter.com/kzcjhYMb5j
— Svensk Fotboll (@svenskfotboll) October 12, 2024
Johansson played the full 90 minutes, making three saves in total, though he conceded two difficult goals. He made one of his saves inside the box and had 41 touches of the ball. He also played a key role in Sweden’s buildup play but struggled with his passing accuracy, completing only 53% of his passes. Johansson completed 18 of 34 total passes, and out of 17 attempted long balls, only 2 were successful, which lowered his overall passing effectiveness.
Despite the challenges, hopes are high that Viktor Johansson will bounce back with a stronger performance, both in terms of distribution and shot-stopping, in Sweden’s next match on October 14, where they will face Estonia in another UEFA Nations League fixture.