Leeds professional Gudmundsson says something changed when the national football team gathered for the decisive playoffs in March, when Sweden first beat Ukraine and then secured a World Cup spot with a win over Poland.
"I've tried to figure out what happened during those ten days in March," says Gudmundsson.
There was some energy in the group; I think it was visible both on and off the field.
One thing that several players mention is how Graham Potter has managed to get the squad pulling in the same direction.
"He's been incredible at taking the pressure off everyone, and at creating a sense of community — that we support each other. He pushes that a lot," says goalkeeper Viktor Johansson.
“Very warm”
Defender Carl Starfelt also highlights the Englishman's personality:
"He is a very warm person. A good and likeable person. He's very clear about what he wants and our path forward. He cares very much about the group and the group dynamics," says Starfelt.
The person who should know best is perhaps Ken Sema, who played in Östersund during some of Potter's seven successful years at the club. That's why the phone call this spring, when the new national team captain announced that the 32-year-old had been picked for the playoff matches against Ukraine and Poland, was extra painful.
"It was really hard. I really thought I would be there," says Ken Sema.
"And it's a bit special for me because I know Graham in a completely different way than others here."
The next conversation was all the more pleasant.
Hardly dared to answer
On the afternoon of May 12, Graham Potter called again. This time to announce that Ken Sema had been given a place in the Swedish World Cup squad.
"He called me an hour before the presentation. I thought, 'What kind of call is this? Should I answer?' In the end I did. I was extremely happy. It's a dream for every player; it's the biggest thing you can be part of."
For Ken Sema, it is not surprising that Potter has managed to turn the blue-and-yellow ship around since he took over after Jon Dahl Tomasson, who was fired last fall after a fiasco in World Cup qualifying.
"In Östersund, he and the entire staff had an extremely clear plan for the club and sold a dream. And the crazy thing was that everything they said came true. Right then and there you started to feel that things you believe in can actually happen."
"It's a bit the same now. So even though people didn't believe in us last fall, we've had a strong belief."
