Sweden's football men lost 0-2 at home to Switzerland in Friday's important World Championship qualifying match in front of a full audience at Strawberry arena in Solna. The first place in qualifying group B and the direct place for the World Championship in North America next summer was practically played away.
After the match, Blågult was booed by their own supporters and a banner with demands for Dahl Tomasson's resignation was unfolded in the stands.
New match on Monday
The day after, TV4 Fotbollskanalen reports, with reference to sources within the Swedish Football Association, that already after Sweden's shocking 0-2 loss away to Kosovo in September, the association "has begun to explore the coaching market" to be ready to replace Dahl Tomasson "depending on the outcome of the ongoing national team gathering".
The Swedish Football Association's football manager Kim Källström chose not to meet the media after the loss to Switzerland. On Saturday, when the national team trained at Bosön outside Stockholm, national team manager Stefan Pettersson spoke out.
It's nothing that has been accelerated in any way and there is no crisis group or crisis meeting. There is nothing like that. We have some who have talked about the national team coach role ever since Janne (Andersson) quit. Of course, you have control and something you discuss all the time.
Jon Dahl Tomasson's contract as national team coach extends to a possible playoff in March if it doesn't become World Championship play next summer.
We are absolutely not in a situation where we even have any crisis meeting, as it was written about, says Pettersson.
Later on Saturday, Kim Källström made a statement:
"Our confidence in Jon Dahl Tomasson is intact and the focus is on Monday's match. There have been no contacts made with other coaches".
On Monday, Blågult will play a decisive match in the qualifying round, at home against Kosovo in Gothenburg.
Believes in himself
After the loss to Switzerland, Jon Dahl Tomasson answered "absolutely" to a question about whether he is the right man to lead the Swedish national team. The Dane believes that Sweden can reach the World Championship via playoff. A place in the playoff, the national team can take as group runner-up or via the previous group victory in the Nations League.
Now the first place is gone. It's a blow to the face, of course, that we only have one point so far, but it's no knockout. I believe we can reach the World Championship, he said.
