Sweden's qualification woes are far from over, but Graham Potter's arrival could be just what they need. The newly appointed manager knows Swedish football inside out and has a reputation for being one of the best in the business.
Potter's previous stint with Brighton was particularly notable, as he guided the Seagulls to promotion to the Championship - a feat that would have been unthinkable if only his experience with Ostersunds had translated to the top tier. The former Chelsea and West Ham manager knows how to build a cohesive team, something Sweden desperately need right now.
With talented players like Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres, and Anthony Elanga at their disposal, it's surprising that Sweden haven't been able to string together more than four games without defeat. Their recent form under Jon Dahl Tomasson was nothing short of disastrous - three consecutive losses against Kosovo and Switzerland, with not a single goal registered in the process.
Former Sweden international Pontus Kamark believes that Potter will be able to whip the team into shape. "There is hope," he says. "Even people in the newspapers write about hope; experts talk about the hope." With Potter's track record of success at Brighton and his intimate knowledge of Swedish football, it's hard not to share Kamark's optimism.
Sweden's path to qualification lies through the Nations League play-offs - a route that could prove far more fruitful than their initial foray into qualifying. The Swedes have secured a top-four spot in the league, which means they're just two games away from the World Cup.
"Winning promotion in the Nations League under Tomasson last season was our lucky ticket," Kamark explains. "If Potter wins the games and we go to the World Cup, he will be a god." While that's perhaps an exaggeration, it's clear that Potter has a chance to make a real difference for Sweden.
As they prepare to take on Switzerland and Slovenia in their next two matches, the Swedes will be hoping that Potter can bring them the kind of success they've been lacking. With his experience and tactical acumen, he might just be the man to turn their fortunes around.
Potter's previous stint with Brighton was particularly notable, as he guided the Seagulls to promotion to the Championship - a feat that would have been unthinkable if only his experience with Ostersunds had translated to the top tier. The former Chelsea and West Ham manager knows how to build a cohesive team, something Sweden desperately need right now.
With talented players like Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres, and Anthony Elanga at their disposal, it's surprising that Sweden haven't been able to string together more than four games without defeat. Their recent form under Jon Dahl Tomasson was nothing short of disastrous - three consecutive losses against Kosovo and Switzerland, with not a single goal registered in the process.
Former Sweden international Pontus Kamark believes that Potter will be able to whip the team into shape. "There is hope," he says. "Even people in the newspapers write about hope; experts talk about the hope." With Potter's track record of success at Brighton and his intimate knowledge of Swedish football, it's hard not to share Kamark's optimism.
Sweden's path to qualification lies through the Nations League play-offs - a route that could prove far more fruitful than their initial foray into qualifying. The Swedes have secured a top-four spot in the league, which means they're just two games away from the World Cup.
"Winning promotion in the Nations League under Tomasson last season was our lucky ticket," Kamark explains. "If Potter wins the games and we go to the World Cup, he will be a god." While that's perhaps an exaggeration, it's clear that Potter has a chance to make a real difference for Sweden.
As they prepare to take on Switzerland and Slovenia in their next two matches, the Swedes will be hoping that Potter can bring them the kind of success they've been lacking. With his experience and tactical acumen, he might just be the man to turn their fortunes around.