Graham Potter Poised To Restore Sweden’s Spirit And Aim For World Cup

There was wide support from Sweden’s well-wishers when, during a training campy successful Marbella this week, Graham Potter announced his caller charges would play a variety of 4-4-2. A nationalist squad erstwhile tipped for greatness had been frayed, disconnected and muddled for excessively long. If their caller head had arrived pinch an unusually precocious profile, astatine slightest he had wasted nary clip successful throwing connected a acquainted comfortableness blanket.

From 1 angle, that is conscionable what nan Sweden occupation resembles for Potter. He could surely not person believed his luck when, conscionable complete a fortnight aft his dismissal by West Ham, nan apical occupation became unfastened successful nan state wherever he made his name. The Swedish Football Association must person pinched itself astatine nan timing, too.

Potter was installed swiftly, initially until March, and nan fresh looked good: 50-year-olds of his pedigree who are steeped successful nan section ways and, crucially, tin grip a salary trim are hardly abundant successful world shot management. He had spent astir 2 years retired of nan fray aft leaving Chelsea but nary rumination was needed this time. “I wasn’t fresh to stop,” he said aft arriving successful Geneva for a fiendish-looking front against Switzerland. “I didn’t request a break. I didn’t request anything. I wanted to transportation connected working.”

It appears immoderate region from nan chaotic early ostentation of Todd Boehly’s operation, not to mention nan eastbound London wreck Potter selected for his return to nan touchline. Neither domiciled really fitted a measured, pragmatic, emotionally intelligent coach pinch erstwhile for making underdogs punch high. Time was erstwhile Sweden, successful their understated way, were masters of doing precisely that.

Yet Potter’s task is not particularly simple. Sweden are successful a funny spot, requiring an astonishing turnaround complete nan adjacent 4 days to salvage their disastrous Group B run but knowing nan information nett of a March playoff tin almost surely beryllium recovered owing to their Nations League occurrence past year. They are bottommost of their group pinch a azygous constituent but 4 games from a return to nan World Cup finals.

Sweden mislaid their past 3 games nether Jon Dahl Tomasson, 2 of them against an improving but unfancied Kosovo. They looked bedraggled and shapeless erstwhile nan Kosovans won successful Gothenburg past month. Such was their disarray that a steadying of nan ship, a return to their aged identity, mightiness count arsenic occurrence for Potter but location is simply a clear undercurrent of pressure. Next doorway successful Norway, a aureate procreation are sweeping each earlier them en way to North America. Sweden person their ain prima vintage and look a title against clip to connection them a spot astatine nan apical table.

It intends that, if thing else, Potter needs to spot signs Sweden tin compete pinch Switzerland. The location broadside will suffice pinch a win, partially acknowledgment to their comfortable triumph successful Stockholm 5 weeks ago.

Sweden request 3 points, and a favour from Slovenia against Kosovo, to support live nan title for 2nd and a perchance crucial place among nan playoff seeds.

Sweden caput coach Graham Potter has a number of awesome talents specified arsenic Alexander Isak (left) astatine his disposal. Photograph: Joel Marklund/BILDBYRÅN/Shutterstock

This is simply a squad Dejan Kulusevski said would “become 1 of nan champion successful nan world” aft a triumph complete Estonia past year. When talents specified arsenic Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyökeres, Anthony Elanga, Roony Bardghji, Yasin Ayari and Lucas Bergvall are added to nan operation it is clear Potter has inherited a goldmine. Tomasson struggled to find nan correct attacking balance, Sweden often looking loose and gung ho connected his watch; his successor must quickly reconstruct order.

Potter’s options will, successful immoderate case, beryllium constricted connected Saturday. Gyökeres and Bergvall, who was sent location emotion nan continued effects of nan concussion sustained for Spurs against Chelsea, subordinate Kulusevski connected nan wounded list. Victor Lindelöf, who will beryllium Potter’s skipper erstwhile available, picked up a insignificant sound precocious successful nan week and will not beryllium risked against Switzerland.

Meanwhile, Isak’s existent level of fittingness is anyone’s guess. “He’s not fresh to commencement [on Saturday],” Potter said of his talisman, who has been dogged by groin problems since his British grounds move to Liverpool. “We person to beryllium smart and usage him successful a bully way. I deliberation it’s champion for Alex that he tin thief america from nan bench.”

Sweden are not truthful rich | successful extent that they tin suffer large names, but person tended to fare champion erstwhile nan corporate holds sway. That selfless, indefatigable tone is what Potter must foster.

During their enactment connected nan Costa del Sol he divided nan squad into mini cells and asked them to show each different astir individuals, possibly a coach aliases family member, who had been important to their careers. The result, according to immoderate of Sweden’s players, was a uncommon level of openness and honesty.

In nationalist appearances he has turned connected nan charm, conducting his pre-match property convention successful nan decent Swedish learned during those 7 years taking Östersund from obscurity into Europe. “It’s a portion of nan occupation that is important,” he said, brushing disconnected compliments astir his proficiency. Contrasts pinch Tomasson, a Dane who preferred to speak English and created an situation that felt progressively distant from outsiders, person been pointedly drawn.

The biggest quality must travel connected nan pitch. Sweden person a estimation to restore. So does Potter, who has taken immoderate incorrect turns but now faces a aureate opportunity to activity astatine nan sport’s astir exalted level adjacent summer. “I wouldn’t beryllium present coming without my clip successful Sweden,” he said. Perhaps going backmost to what they know, 4-4-2 aliases otherwise, will thief Potter and nan federation he has grown to love.