Sweden’s World Cup dreams are hanging by a thread, and the fallout is nothing short of explosive. Imagine a team boasting nearly £200 million worth of attacking talent—Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres—yet sitting rock bottom of their qualifying group with just one point from four matches. It’s a scenario that’s left fans, players, and pundits alike scratching their heads in disbelief. But here’s where it gets controversial: could Sweden’s star-studded squad be the victim of mismanagement, or is there something deeper at play? Let’s dive in.
On Monday night, Sweden suffered yet another humiliating defeat, this time at the hands of Kosovo—a team widely considered European underdogs. The 1-0 loss in Gothenburg wasn’t just a setback; it was a full-blown crisis. Fisnik Asllani’s first-half goal sealed the deal for Kosovo, who now sit comfortably in second place in the group, having completed a stunning double over Sweden. And this is the part most people miss: Sweden’s all-Premier League frontline, including Isak and Gyokeres, has managed a measly two goals in their entire campaign while conceding seven. For a team with such firepower, it’s nothing short of baffling.
The tension in the Swedish camp has reached a boiling point. Anthony Elanga, Newcastle United’s winger, reportedly couldn’t contain his frustration post-match, shouting, 'The damn system must go!' Elanga, who was left out of both qualifiers this week, later told reporters, 'We’ve worked on a system, but it doesn’t translate on the field. We’re the ones out there, and we need to take responsibility.' His words hint at a deeper rift between players and management—a rift that could spell disaster for Sweden’s World Cup hopes.
Manager Jon Dahl Tomasson is under the microscope, with local outlet SportBladet reporting that several stars are losing faith in the 49-year-old. One of Tomasson’s peculiar decisions has raised eyebrows: he revealed his starting lineup just one hour before kickoff against Kosovo, a move that even Tottenham’s Lucas Bergvall questioned. 'It doesn’t affect me much, but I can’t speak for everyone else,' Bergvall said. The young midfielder, a regular for Thomas Frank at Spurs, was subbed off at halftime in the Kosovo defeat, only to learn later that it was a tactical decision. 'I was completely healthy,' he admitted. 'It’s hard to take, but you have to respect it.'
Alexander Isak came close to rescuing Sweden on multiple occasions, including a stoppage-time header that was brilliantly saved by Kosovo’s goalkeeper Arijanet Muric. Yet, as Tomasson admitted in his post-match press conference, 'We’ve forgotten how to score goals, and I don’t know why.' His candid admission only adds to the growing pressure on his shoulders. When asked about resignation rumors, Tomasson replied, 'I have a contract, and we’re in the middle of qualifying. Of course, it’s not good enough. It hurts.'
With just two qualifiers left—against Switzerland and Slovenia next month—Sweden’s chances of securing a playoff spot are slim. But the bigger question lingers: is this a team failing to live up to its potential, or is it a system that’s fundamentally broken? Is Tomasson the right man to lead Sweden forward, or is a change needed to salvage their World Cup dreams? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this debate is far from over.
