Success in the Nations League in the fall of 2024 proved to be an important lifeline for Sweden. After the debacle earlier in the qualifiers – under national team captain Jon Dahl Tomasson’s leadership – it is now the only route to this summer’s play-offs in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
The meeting with Switzerland, 1–4, was the first step together with new national team captain Graham Potter. Next is tonight's match against Slovenia. Then things will quickly become tight when the national team gathers in March.
Important match
Therefore, all time, all days, all matches, are important in the pursuit of a World Cup spot.
This is a match where we need to set our style of play more and focus on details, says midfielder Alexander Bernhardsson.
In these days that we have been working together, we have taken incredible steps, and we showed that against Switzerland. We did well for 60 minutes but then it was the small details that made us lose.
What steps are you thinking of then?
As a team, that we worked together. We can create sharp chances while being compact and working as a team. We help each other on the pitch.
“Football suits us”
Time is of course a factor in Sweden's change efforts. Defender Emil Krafth is nevertheless convinced that the style of play that Potter wants to play is entirely possible to achieve in time for the decisive matches.
"You can't go through everything in these short days, but rather get the basics and then work on it. But he (Graham Potter) has done well. He has given us the information we need and everyone is buying into the way he wants to play. I think it feels good," he says.
"I think this football suits us better," he says.
Defender colleague Victor Nilsson Lindelöf:
"We've had pretty clear ideas about what we want to do and it's felt really good. I don't think it's been difficult for the team to adjust," he says.
All the work we're doing now is for March. Hopefully we can go out then, perform and get to a championship. That would be really great.
