Graham Potter has been appointed as Sweden’s new national team manager, taking charge on a short-term deal until the end of the World Cup qualifiers.
It’s a daunting challenge. Sweden sit bottom of their group, six points adrift of second place and with qualification hopes hanging by a thread.
But with one of Europe’s most exciting strike pairings at his disposal, Potter may still have a glimmer of hope.
A Premier League Partnership in Waiting
Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres are the focal points of this Swedish side. Between them, they produced 99 goal contributions last season for Newcastle and Sporting. Both have since earned major Premier League moves; Isak joining Liverpool and Gyökeres sealing a high-profile transfer to Arsenal.
However, neither has started this season well – for club nor country.
Should Potter stand a chance of saving Sweden’s faint World Cup hopes, he’ll quickly need to get both firing on all cylinders again.
Potter’s Familiarity with Gyökeres
Potter knows Gyökeres well from his time at Brighton, although the relationship didn’t bear fruit back then. The Swede was allowed to leave the club for a minimal fee, later developing in the Championship before making his name in Portugal.
What Potter did show at Brighton, however, was his ability to adapt. He developed a reputation for tactical flexibility – rotating between back threes and back fours, and using players in hybrid roles. His best spell came towards the end of his time on the south coast, playing with wing-backs, a compact midfield and two forwards pressing high.
That system could suit Isak and Gyökeres perfectly.
Finding the Right Balance
Both strikers like to stretch defences. Isak thrives on drifting wide and exploiting gaps between defenders, while Gyökeres is relentless in his movement and work rate off the ball.
A two-man partnership should allow them to complement one another: Isak providing flair and link-up play, Gyökeres leading the line with power and directness. With the right supply, they could cause real problems.
Building the System
If Potter leans into his 3-4-1-2 setup, Sweden’s squad offers a workable foundation.
Defensively, there aren’t any world class talents, although Victor Lindelöf brings significant experience. It was at the back where Sweden struggled the most under Jon Dahl Tomasson. They looked unorganised and vulnerable; this is where Potter will quickly need to work his magic. During his Brighton heyday, Potter successfully drilled a disciplined defensive shape into the backline, with Marc Cucurella and Tariq Lamptey the wide outlets to relieve pressure and launch attacks.
Brighton’s Yasin Ayari can be deployed in a holding role to screen the defence and act as a deep lying playmaker, with Lucas Bergvall in an attacking, ball-playing role.
That foundation allows Isak and Gyökeres to play together as a genuine front two, although it would struggle to get the best out of Elanga or Bardghji, two exciting attacking talents in their own right..
On paper, it is a similar setup to the one used by Jon Dahl Tomasson without much success, which shows that Potter’s task isn’t as simple as just getting his frontmen firing.
Sweden’s historic success has been built upon rock-solid defences, with the talent up top to convert rare opportunities – Olof Mellberg and Patrik Andersson were just as important as Henrik Larsson and Zlatan Ibrahimović.
The Scale of the Task
Sweden’s qualification hopes are slim. They face Switzerland and Slovenia, needing two wins and help from elsewhere. Potter’s lifeline is the UEFA play-off competition, which features the 12 group runners-up and four best-ranked Nations League sides. While Sweden were the tenth-best ranked side, many of the teams which are above them in the rankings are expected to automatically qualify, presenting a potential lifeline.
For Potter, this is as much about building confidence as it is about chasing a miracle. His track record doesn’t suggest instant success – his last two roles ended early after poor short-term results.
Still, this is a chance for redemption. With Isak and Gyökeres leading the line, Sweden have the tools to score goals and to win games. If Potter can unlock their partnership, Sweden might just find themselves back in contention – but organising the defensive structure will be just as important.
