Record-Breaking Gyökeres Fires Sweden Past Bosnia and Into Nations League A

SOLNA, 14 November – Viktor Gyökeres has written his name into the UEFA Nations League record books. The Arsenal striker converted two first-half penalties as Sweden edged Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-2 at the Strawberry Arena on Saturday, becoming the first player to score in eight consecutive Nations League matches and sealing Sweden’s promotion to League A.

Graham Potter’s side were 3-0 up at the break and looked out of sight, only to survive a nervy second-half fightback in front of 51,049 fans.

Three goals in a blistering first half

Sweden needed just five minutes to break through. Full-back Daniel Svensson met Anthony Elanga’s cross with a glancing header for his first senior international goal.

Six minutes later it was 2-0. Stjepan Radeljić was penalised for pulling back Gyökeres in the box, and the striker drilled the spot-kick past Martin Zlomislić.

Gyökeres then cut the ball back for Alexander Isak to tap in, but the goal was chalked off for offside after a VAR check. It hardly mattered. Just before half-time, Sead Kolašinac brought down Svensson in the area and Gyökeres scored from 12 yards again, in the second minute of added time.

Bosnia hit back

The visitors, who had lost Haris Tabaković to injury in the first half, came out swinging. Armin Gigović headed in Ermin Mahmić’s cross just two minutes after the restart to make it 3-1.

Sweden goalkeeper Viktor Johansson then kept out efforts from Ermedin Demirović and Kerim Alajbegović before Kolašinac atoned for his penalty concession. The defender headed home Alajbegović’s corner at the near post on 62 minutes, his first senior international goal in his 74th cap.

That set up a tense final half-hour in Solna, but Sweden held firm to take all three points.

Gyökeres by the numbers

• 8 – consecutive Nations League matches with a goal, a competition record
• 12 – goals during that eight-game run, which dates back to October 2024
• 6 – goals in five matches in this campaign, the most in League B
• 27 – international goals in 42 caps, taking him into Sweden’s all-time top 10

What it means

The win takes Sweden to 13 points from five matches in League B Group 4, with four wins and a draw. They are confirmed as group winners with a game to spare and will play in League A for the first time since the 2020-21 edition, completing back-to-back promotions.

The result also puts Sweden in the second seeding pot for the Euro 2028 qualifying draw, according to Swedish broadcaster SVT.

There was more good news for Potter on the hour mark when Dejan Kulusevski came off the bench for his first international appearance in almost two years after a long-term injury.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, managed by Sergej Barbarez, saw an unbeaten run of seven away matches come to an end. Still, they stay second on eight points and are guaranteed a place in the League A/B play-offs after Poland lost to Romania in the group’s other fixture.

For Gyökeres, though, the night was about history. Eight straight games, eight times on the scoresheet, and Sweden are back among Europe’s elite.

Sources: BBC Sport, Flashscore, Goal, SVT Sport, Premier League.

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