Kulusevski's Epic World Cup Defiance: 'I'd Bet on Myself Against Brazil or France!'
Dejan Kulusevski is defiantly backing Sweden to shine at the 2026 World Cup despite nearly a year out with a knee injury. The Tottenham winger, fresh from a minor procedure, insists he'd bet on himself to return and help his nation fear no one, from Brazil to France. As Group F looms with Tunisia, Netherlands, and Japan, his comeback could transform their attacking threat.
Kulusevski's Epic World Cup Defiance: 'I'd Bet on Myself Against Brazil or France!'
Picture this: you're a top-flight winger, sidelined for nearly a year with a dodgy knee, yet you're still talking up your nation's chances of conquering the World Cup. That's Dejan Kulusevski for you – the Tottenham star who's turning his rehab saga into a motivational masterpiece ahead of the 2026 tournament in North America.
The Swedish international hasn't kicked a ball in competitive action since May 2025, thanks to a pesky right kneecap injury that required surgery and a cheeky follow-up procedure. But while most blokes in his position might be eyeing a quiet comeback, Kulusevski's firing off verbal grenades at the world's elite. He's not just hoping to make the plane; he's plotting to make rivals quake.
A Nail-Biting Road to Recovery
Sweden's qualification path was pure chaos – not a single win in the European qualifiers, yet they snuck through with a 3-2 thriller over Poland in the play-offs. Kulusevski watched it all from the treatment room, fighting back tears as his mates punched their ticket to Group F, facing Tunisia, Netherlands, and Japan. Their opener's on 15 June against the North Africans, and without their flair merchant, it'll be a tough ask.
The 25-year-old Spurs man opened up to Viaplay about his gruelling rehab. "I haven't played in a year. I know the odds," he admitted, before dropping the mic: "But if there's one person on the planet who can pull this off, I'd bet on myself." Recent reports of a second op had fans fretting, but Kulusevski waved it off like a bad tackle. It was just a minor cleanup to fix the root issue – a positive step, he insists, leaving him optimistic that the knee gremlins are finally banished.
"People worried for the wrong reasons," he laughed it off. "This small procedure identified the problem, and now it should be sorted. At the end of the day, only God decides." Fair play – humility mixed with that trademark swagger.
No Fear, Just Fire: Sweden's Big Ambitions
Forget minnows scraping by; Kulusevski wants Sweden to strut onto the global stage like they own it. "We're not going just to make up the numbers," he declared. "We'll aim to be one of the best." His mission? Ensure the Blågult never flinch against the heavyweights. "Brazil, France, whoever – as long as I live, Sweden won't fear anyone. That's why I'm here: to give faith and love to my people."
It's Viking-level bravado, innit? While Alexander Isak from Liverpool is primed to return, Kulusevski's absence has left gaps. Lads like Anthony Elanga and Viktor Lindelöf have shouldered the load, but a fully fit Kulusevski – with his dribbles, crosses, and sheer chaos – could turbocharge their attack. Imagine him linking up with Isak up top; defences would be sweating buckets.
From Juventus youth product to Tottenham talisman, Kulusevski's journey screams resilience. This is his second World Cup shot in 16 years for Sweden, and he's treating it like a personal crusade. The clock's ticking – tournament kicks off in the USA, Canada, and Mexico – but if anyone can defy the medics and the doubters, it's this self-proclaimed miracle worker.
So, raise a glass to Kulusevski, the knee warrior plotting football's greatest comeback. Will he lace up for Tunisia? Only time – and maybe a divine intervention – will tell. One thing's certain: when he does, the world's top sides better watch their backs.