Why has Sweden's World Cup bid gone wrong and can Potter save them?

"With that kind of attacking talent, Sweden's qualification for the 2026 World Cup should have been inevitable. If only it had panned out that way. In reality, Sweden are bottom of their qualifying group behind Slovenia, Kosovo and Switzerland, having not won any of their four games. Automatic qualification is impossible. There is, fortunately for Sweden, another way. They could reach the World Cup through the play-offs based on their Uefa Nations League position."

"In October, Sweden sacked Jon Dahl Tomasson less than two years into his reign. Despite being able to call on Isak and Gyokeres, who moved for a combined 180m in the summer transfer window, Sweden's last three matches under the Dane were all qualifying defeats, twice by Kosovo and once by Switzerland. In all those games, Sweden failed to score."

"Former Denmark and Newcastle striker Tomasson's reign as Sweden's first foreign head coach had started well, with promotion to the Nations League's second tier helped by Gyokeres scoring 10 goals in 2024 and Isak five. But this year the pair have dried up, with one goal between them. "Those players are not bad collectively, but we were underperforming as a collective massively," former Sweden and Leicester defender Pontus Kamark told BBC Sport."

Sweden possess high-profile attackers but sit bottom of their 2026 World Cup qualifying group with no wins from four matches. Automatic qualification is impossible, so qualification now depends on play-offs via their UEFA Nations League position. Graham Potter has been appointed manager to attempt to reverse the decline. Jon Dahl Tomasson was sacked after three consecutive qualifying defeats in which Sweden failed to score. Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres have combined for one goal this year despite costing about 180m in summer transfers. Observers note significant collective underperformance, isolated individual play, wide midfield areas exposing defensive weaknesses, and chances conceded even against lower-ranked opponents.

Read at www.bbc.com