Sweden should qualify for World Cup 2026 whereas Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres are of their prime, says Jonas Olsson | Soccer Information

It’s crunch time for Sweden.

They’ve performed 4 World Cup qualifying matches, however have only one level to their title. Direct qualification is already out of the query – Switzerland or Kosovo will take that.

On October 14, Jon Dahl Tomasson was sacked as head coach. “Soccer is results-based and we have now reached some extent the place outcomes aren’t sufficient,” stated Kim Kallstrom, the nation’s Head of Soccer.

Now, to have any likelihood of securing a spot within the play-offs in March, they need to win each of their matches throughout the following week towards the Swiss and Slovenia.

“Initially of the marketing campaign, there was such a optimistic sense about Swedish soccer,” former Sweden defender Jonas Olsson tells Sky Sports activities.

“We’ve got most likely one of the best staff since Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Freddie Ljungberg, with Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres, Dejan Kulusevski, Anthony Elanga. The staff, player-for-player, is great.

“They’ve tried to go a unique method with Swedish soccer; usually it has been very 4-4-2, with a really organised, very defensive method.

“Now, they wish to play a bit extra attacking soccer. The issue has been they’ve been too open and a bit too naive, I believe.”

Concerningly, the Swedes have scored simply two targets throughout these 4 qualifying video games.

Olsson believes within the change of method, however questions the timing of its implementation.

“It is legitimate to alter it due to the gamers they’ve out there, however I believe it’s important to take small steps into it,” he says.

“Trying on the first 4 video games, they have been too open and so they received punished too simply.

“It’s important to have these ambitions with the gamers you could have out there. These gamers I discussed are the power of the staff and you need to play to the power of your largest gamers.

“I additionally assume they’ve defenders who’re extra suited to enjoying excessive up the pitch, with Isak Hien, who performs for Atalanta, and with Victor Lindelof. The technology earlier than had defenders – like me, like Olof Mellberg – who have been snug sitting deep, defending the field.

“They undoubtedly ought to go that method, however they need to do it with a steadiness.”

The 2 November fixtures are additionally the primary with new head coach Graham Potter in cost.

The 50-year-old was appointed on a short-term contract on October 20, simply over three weeks after he was sacked by West Ham.

“I believe it was the apparent appointment when Potter declared, earlier than he was approached by the Swedish FA, that he wished the job and that the wage wasn’t a difficulty,” Olsson continues.

“That is usually the difficulty when the Swedish FA are as a result of appoint a supervisor because the wage is not the very best, to allow them to’t actually go for the largest names.

“Potter’s hyperlink with Swedish soccer is huge due to what he did at Ostersunds, but in addition due to his teaching workers; his assistant Bjorn Hamberg has been with him at Brighton and Chelsea.

“Swedish supporters form of see him as one among their very own, so it is a simple appointment to promote and, by way of getting the steadiness proper, his management qualities present he can construct a very good group of gamers and a way of concord.

“However the Swedish nationwide staff is at some extent the place they do not have the posh to see the long-term perspective. They should carry out now, within the two video games developing.

“It is going to be all about simply getting as ready as attainable for these two video games and no matter comes after that, you take care of then.”

On Thursday, Potter confirmed Liverpool striker Isak was “match and out there for choice”, however Gyokeres is absent from this month’s squad with a muscular challenge.

If the duo are match and firing, most would fancy Sweden’s possibilities.

“It is about getting them concerned within the sport, placing him in good positions as typically as attainable. That wasn’t the case with the previous supervisor,” Olsson says.

“He wished to play a high-pressing line, however they did not handle to do it. The quantity of occasions Isak or Gyokeres was on the ball was very restricted.

“Potter has to discover a option to get them extra concerned, whether or not that be urgent excessive or whether or not that be being higher in transition.

“One other challenge was with the formation the previous supervisor performed, with one striker. It was a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Isak as a dropping striker, however I believe they may play with two strikers now.

“The chemistry between them hasn’t been good in any respect within the nationwide staff, not in these 4 video games or the video games in the summertime, in order that’s one thing to work on when Gyokeres is again, however I do assume a change of formation will likely be a primary step in the direction of that.”

Sweden haven’t certified for 3 of the final 4 World Cups – and Olsson says it could be a disgrace for gamers of their prime to overlook out.

“It might be very disappointing to not qualify once more. After we received drawn into that group, with all due respect to Switzerland, Slovenia and Kosovo, everybody felt this was a very good draw and we should always be capable of get, if not first place, then second place and go to the play-offs.

“In that context, it could be a large disappointment, but in addition, trying on the principal gamers, Gyokeres is 26, Isak is 25, Kulusevski is 25 as properly. That is their prime; the following World Cup, they are going to be nearer to 30 and who is aware of the place they are going to be then.

“For all these causes, it is important Sweden qualify for this one.”