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Graham Potter has been appointed as Sweden’s head coach on a short-term deal with the goal of qualifying for the World Cup. The 50-year-old, sacked by West Ham less than a month ago, will take charge of the final two qualifiers next month and his contract will be extended to cover the playoffs and next summer’s tournament should the team get there.
Sweden are bottom of their qualifying group with one point from four games and play in Switzerland on 15 November then at home to Slovenia three days later. They could reach the playoffs even if they do not finish second because they won Nations League group C1. The 12 qualifying group runners-up will be joined by the four best-ranked Nations League section winners in March’s playoffs.
Potter takes over from Jon Dahl Tomasson and inherits a squad that includes Liverpool’s Alexander Isak and Arsenal’s Viktor Gyökeres. He has experience in Swedish football having spent seven successful years with Östersund from 2011. He has since managed Swansea, Brighton, Chelsea and West Ham.
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“I am very humble about the assignment, but also inspired,” Potter said. “Sweden has fantastic players who deliver in the best leagues every week. My job will be to create the conditions so that we as a team deliver at the highest level to take Sweden to the World Cup next summer.”
Sweden lost 2-0 to Switzerland and 1-0 to Kosovo this month, prompting the sacking of Tomasson, the team’s first foreign coach.
