In October, Dahl Tomasson was fired with immediate effect, becoming the first Swedish national team captain. The Dane had reached the end of the road. Confidence was depleted after three losses and only one point in four qualifying matches.
Defender Emil Holm was on a plane on his way home to Bologna when the news bomb exploded the day after the 0-1 loss at home to Kosovo.
Of course you were shocked. At the same time, I understand that it happened. That's how it is in the world of football. We haven't been brilliant in this qualifier so far.
Is there a need for you players to examine yourselves?
"I think everyone has done that. With the potential we have in the squad, we will do better," says Holm.
“Open and humble”
What went wrong?
A combination of many things. We players didn't get up to par. We have a good squad, we just have to get it on the pitch. Now it's up to us to prove it. Everyone has to step up a few notches. I don't know what Potter's plans are yet, but we all have to be open and humble about the task we have ahead of us. We're going to make sure we start winning football matches, says Holm.
Viktor Johanson, the declared first-choice goalkeeper under new national captain Graham Potter, is self-critical and feels for Tomasson.
You feel a great responsibility for what happened. I do anyway. We players are the ones who have to do the job on the field. We didn't come up to par. It's clear that you take it hard. It was sad, he says.
Johansson continues:
I don't know what got stuck and I don't think anyone has the answer to that. I'm not going to sit here and throw boots at "JDT". It's a collective. We're doing this together. Now it's happened, I'm looking forward and very much looking forward to working under Graham.
Accept their role
Emil Holm did not receive any greater trust under Tomasson's regime.
Of course it's boring. The best thing there is is to play for Sweden, but at some point you just have to accept it and be the best team player you can be. Everyone wants to play in the World Cup in the summer and then you have to accept your role and make the best of the situation.
In Graham Potter's first national team squad, Holm is the only pure right-back.
I've seen it too.
But that doesn't make him conclude that he's the one playing against Switzerland on Saturday.
We'll see. I'm not taking anything for granted.
