The newly appointed national captain brings in a couple of surprising names from the Allsvenskan, players who have not been part of the national team under former national captain Jon Dahl Tomasson.
Taha Ali, Malmö FF, Gustav Lundgren, Gais, and Besfort Zeneli, Elfsborg, all get a chance in Potter's first national team squad of a total of 26 players.
Debut at 30
Perhaps most notable is that Gais midfielder Lundgren will make his national team debut at the age of 30. He was shocked to receive the news when the "Makrillarna" trained during the squad selection.
"I had no idea. I still don't know if I can take it seriously or if someone is kidding me," Lundgren tells Aftonbladet .
Potter describes the selection as “a nice story.” He tried to reach Lundgren on Tuesday, but was unsuccessful.
"I had a missed call yesterday. I checked the number but couldn't find where it came from and so I didn't call back. I thought it was a salesperson or something like that," the 30-year-old tells Aftonbladet.
AIK midfielder Anton Salétros, usually a starter under Tomasson, is not in the squad, however. Nor is goalkeeper Robin Olsen, who did not want to play under the Dane's leadership at the end, selected.
As for the biggest attacking stars, Graham Potter will have to do without both Dejan Kulusevski and Viktor Gyökeres. Kulusevski has been out for the entire World Cup qualifiers while Gyökeres was ruled out with an injury in Arsenal's league match last weekend.
However, Alexander Isak is included, even though groin problems have prevented him from playing with Liverpool in recent matches.
"Alex is not ready to play two 90-minute games in four days, but he is available and I look forward to meeting him," Potter said.
Johansson first choice
Potter revealed, among other things, that Viktor Johansson is intended as the first goalkeeper and that the idea is that Sweden will play with a four-back line.
The national football team gathers on Monday and faces Switzerland away (November 15) and Slovenia at home (November 18) in the final two World Cup qualifying matches.
Sweden has only one point after the four opening matches in the group stage and after the latest losses, at home against Switzerland and Kosovo, Jon Dahl Tomasson was fired.
Most indications are that Sweden will still be allowed to play in the World Cup playoffs in March, thanks to the previous group victory in the Nations League.
Here are the players who have been selected for the World Cup qualifying matches against Switzerland (November 15, Geneva) and Slovenia (November 18, Solna).
Goalkeepers: Viktor Johansson, Stoke, Kristoffer Nordfeldt, AIK, Noel Törnqvist, Mjällby, Jacob Widell Zetterström, Derby.
Defenders: Gabriel Gudmundsson, Leeds, Isak Hien, Atalanta, Emil Holm, Bologna, Carl Starfelt, Celta Vigo, Victor Nilsson Lindelöf, Aston Villa, Ken Sema, Pafos, Daniel Svensson, Borussia Dortmund, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Braga.
Midfielders/strikers: Taha Ali, Malmö FF, Yasin Ayari, Brighton, Roony Bardghji, Barcelona, Alexander Bernhardsson, Kiel, Anthony Elanga, Newcastle, Jesper Karlström, Udinese, Hugo Larsson, Eintracht Frankfurt, Isac Lidberg, Darmstadt, Gustav Lundgren, Gais, Benjamin Nygren, Celtic, Alexander Isak, Liverpool, Lucas Bergvall, Tottenham, Mattias Svanberg, Wolfsburg, Besfort Zeneli, Elfsborg.
