World Cup
Sweden turn crisis into dream start at World Cup with Potter and Isak
Sweden’s World Cup campaign took a dramatic turn from crisis to optimism after Graham Potter’s side secured a late qualification berth and opened with a 5-1 win over Tunisia in Monterrey.
The 5-1 victory in the group stage shifted the mood from gloom to celebration in Swedish football. The Netherlands face Sweden on Saturday in Houston, with the Dutch side needing to contain the resurgent side now leading Group F.
"Welcome to dreamland. Apparently it’s located in Mexico and called Monterrey. Sweden can go back to sleep. When the country wakes up, this dream will still be reality," Aftonbladet wrote after the win. Dagens Nyheter added: "This is a team where everyone plays for each other."
Sweden’s path to the World Cup was far from straightforward. The national team earned only two points during qualification, prompting the dismissal of former coach Jon Dahl Tomasson. Potter was appointed in October to revive the side’s fortunes.
The 51-year-old Englishman arrived in Sweden with prior success in the country. In 2010, he took Östersunds, then a fourth-tier side, to the top flight and even reached the Europa League, where they defeated Arsenal.
After stints at Chelsea and West Ham United, Potter found himself out of work before accepting the Sweden job. His start as national coach was rocky, beginning with a 4-1 loss to Switzerland, but he guided the team through the Nations League and into the play-offs.
Ukraine and Poland were convincingly beaten in the play-offs, securing Sweden’s place at the tournament. Swedish media dubbed Potter the "ideal national coach" for restoring calm and confidence, though recent friendlies raised concerns.
A 2-0 loss to Norway two weeks before the World Cup and a 2-2 draw with Greece tested the team’s resilience. "Sweden can be glad the first World Cup match is only in two weeks," Aftonbladet wrote at the time.
That first match has now been played, and the tone has shifted again. Potter praised his players after the Tunisia win, singling out strikers Alexander Isak (Liverpool) and Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal) for their two goals and three assists.
"Individually they are top players, but I think together they can be a serious threat," Potter said at a press conference. "I think they will only get better as they play together more. They complement each other very well."
The Dutch will face a Sweden side brimming with renewed confidence and led by two in-form strikers. Potter acknowledged the moment but warned against complacency. "We will certainly enjoy this," he said after the Tunisia win. "But it’s only one match. Saturday brings another top game for us."
The match kicks off at 19:00 Dutch time and will be broadcast live on .nl, NPO 1, and NPO Radio 1, with audio description available for blind and visually impaired viewers on NPO 1 Extra (channel 81) and NPO Start.