This was no fairytale arrival for Graham Potter, who must take Sweden to next summer’s World Cup via the most difficult route possible. A weakened side were well beaten by Switzerland, a country whose aptitude they should be aiming to at least match, ultimately paying for frailties at both ends. Disastrous defending brought the soft spot kick from which Granit Xhaka put the home side back in front on the hour, undoing an impressive recovery that had seen Benjamin Nygren cancel out Breel Embolo’s goal.
Dan Ndoye, a threat throughout, deservedly scored another and the replacement Johan Manzambi added late gloss. There were few flourishes from a clearly rusty Alexander Isak on his introduction from the bench. It meant Switzerland will, in the fair assumption that they do not lose by six goals in Kosovo on Tuesday, compete on the highest stage once again and continue to be a benchmark for Potter’s adopted country.
Continue reading…This was no fairytale arrival for Graham Potter, who must take Sweden to next summer’s World Cup via the most difficult route possible. A weakened side were well beaten by Switzerland, a country whose aptitude they should be aiming to at least match, ultimately paying for frailties at both ends. Disastrous defending brought the soft spot kick from which Granit Xhaka put the home side back in front on the hour, undoing an impressive recovery that had seen Benjamin Nygren cancel out Breel Embolo’s goal.Dan Ndoye, a threat throughout, deservedly scored another and the replacement Johan Manzambi added late gloss. There were few flourishes from a clearly rusty Alexander Isak on his introduction from the bench. It meant Switzerland will, in the fair assumption that they do not lose by six goals in Kosovo on Tuesday, compete on the highest stage once again and continue to be a benchmark for Potter’s adopted country. Continue reading…
