'Wasn't the best' - Leeds United star's honest World Cup form admission after five-week injury return
Gabriel Gudmundsson missed Leeds United's final four Premier League games with a hamstring injury.
Leeds United defender Gabriel Gudmundsson insists he is back to full fitness just in time for Sweden’s 2026 World Cup campaign.
Gudmundsson had been sidelined for a little over five weeks with a hamstring injury suffered during Leeds’ FA Cup semi-final defeat against Chelsea. The 27-year-old missed his side’s final four Premier League games in which survival was mathematically secured.
Sweden head coach Graham Potter still called Gudmundsson up to his World Cup squad but the left-back missed a warm-up friendly defeat to Norway. He returned and played 64 minutes in a 2-2 draw at home to Greece on Thursday last week.
With both pre-tournament friendlies now complete, Gudmundsson and his Sweden teammates arrived in Dallas ahead of their World Cup campaign. And the Leeds man provided an encouraging fitness update to his nation’s media.
“It had been more than five weeks since I played a match,” Gudmundsson told Svenska Dagbladet via Sport Witness. “I got a good and much-needed dose [vs Greece].
“We had a plan to build myself up for the World Cup and I feel one hundred percent physically. The rhythm wasn’t the best, but the most important thing was to get going and feel it again.”
Gudmundsson will hope to have done enough to keep his starting place when Sweden kick off their World Cup against Tunisia in Guadalupe, Mexico on June 15. The left-back has been a regular under former Chelsea and Brighton boss Potter, thanks mainly to his performances at club-level with Leeds.
Gabriel Gudmundsson on impressive Leeds United season
The Swede joined Daniel Farke’s side in a £10million deal last summer and that price-tag now looks a bargain, with Gudmundsson among Leeds’ most consistent performers. And the defender reflected on an impressive debut campaign at Elland Road while also looking ahead to the future.
“The goal was to help the club stay [up],” he added. “Everything has felt good. It will be exciting to see what we can do further down the line with the group we have.
“The fans have been supportive all season, absolutely fantastic. From the first day I arrived. They have been a big factor in the success we have had.”
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.