Sweden's World Cup Dreams Shattered: Manager Jon Dahl Tomasson axed
Sweden's 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign has taken a dramatic turn for the worse, with the sacking of manager Jon Dahl Tomasson. The decision comes after a string of disappointing results, leaving the team at the bottom of Group B with just one point from four games.
The team's star-studded forward line, featuring Liverpool's Alexander Isak and Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres, has struggled to find its footing. Sweden has drawn with Slovenia and suffered defeats to Kosovo and Switzerland in their opening games. This poor start has raised questions about Tomasson's tactical approach and the team's overall performance.
Tomasson, a former Blackburn Rovers manager and Newcastle United player, took over as Sweden's first foreign coach in February 2024. His appointment was met with high expectations, but the results have fallen short.
Swedish Football Association's chairman Simon Astrom explained the decision, stating, 'The decision is based on the fact that the men's national team has not delivered the results we hoped for.'
Despite the current setback, Sweden still has a chance to reach the play-offs in March. The team will travel to Switzerland and host Slovenia in their final two matches, aiming to close the gap on second-placed Kosovo, who have seven points in Group B.
However, Sweden's path to the World Cup is not entirely dependent on Group B's rankings. Their success in the 2024-25 Nations League, where they topped their group, could still secure their spot in the play-offs.
The Nations League's role is significant, as the winners of the qualifying groups will secure 12 of the 16 spots for European nations at the 2026 tournament. The remaining four spots will be filled by the best Nations League group winners who didn't finish in the top two of their qualifying groups.
Currently, Wales, Romania, Sweden, and Northern Ireland are in the play-off spots due to their Nations League performances. This scenario highlights the importance of both the qualifying rounds and the Nations League in determining a team's World Cup fate.
Critics have been vocal about Tomasson's tactics, with one Swedish football reporter stating, 'Everything has gone wrong. He has implemented a system and tactics that we do not have the players for.' The team's inability to score goals, despite having world-class forwards, has been a major concern.
The comparison between the current team and the 2004 Euros squad that nearly beat the Netherlands in the quarter-final has been drawn, highlighting the contrast in results. The 2004 team, led by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrik Larsson, is considered one of Sweden's best, but the current squad's performance has been criticized as some of the worst.
The pressure on Tomasson was mounting, with the reporter adding, 'He was a dead man walking after the Kosovo game.' The team's struggle to live up to expectations has sparked debates about the right approach to the game, with some questioning Tomasson's ability to lead Sweden to success.
