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Sweden manager Graham Potter has unveiled his squad for the upcoming World Cup, and notably omitted Tottenham Hotspur forward Dejan Kulusevski, who has been sidelined for a year with a knee injury and failed to recover in time for the tournament.
While Potter’s 26-man selection contained few major surprises, many observers had anticipated the 26-year-old Kulusevski’s inclusion if there was even a remote possibility of him playing a part. However, the coach has ruled out what would have amounted to a miraculous return.
“A very, very difficult decision in terms of where he (Kulusevski) has been, what he’s done over the last year, where he’s at in terms of his rehab with four and a half weeks to go to that first game,” Potter told a media conference.
“Once those games start, you’re not really in a place where you can start playing in big areas, spaces and then be able to work. So it’s very, very difficult to get up to where we need them to be, and so you have to make a very tough decision.”
Graham Potter admitted it was a ‘tough decision’ to leave out Kulusevski (Getty)
Fellow forward Alexander Isak, who has also contended with injuries this past season, has made the cut, with Potter expressing confidence in his ability to perform once the tournament commences.
“We obviously hope he finishes the season in Liverpool with some game time,” Potter said. “Our challenge is to get Alex in the best moment of the season and for him to hit top form, because if he does, he’s a world-class player.”
Sweden endured a challenging qualifying campaign, finishing bottom of their group with just two points. However, their performance in UEFA Nations League C provided a route through the playoffs, where victories over Ukraine and Poland secured their place at the finals.
“It’s incredibly exciting, a huge honour for me,” Potter remarked before announcing the squad. “The positive response from our supporters has been fantastic, and now we’re looking forward to creating more memories together during the World Cup.”
The Swedes will kick off their Group F campaign against Tunisia in Guadalupe, Mexico, on 14 June, before travelling across the border to Texas for matches against the Netherlands in Houston and Japan in Arlington.
Sweden squad:
Goalkeepers: Kristoffer Nordfeldt (AIK), Viktor Johansson (Stoke City), Jacob Widell Zetterström (Derby County)
Defenders: Daniel Svensson (Borussia Dortmund), Victor Lindelof (Aston Villa), Isak Hien (Atalanta), Carl Starfelt (Celta Vigo), Elliot Stroud (Mjallby AIF), Gustaf Lagerbielke (Braga), Gabriel Gudmundsson (Leeds United), Emil Holm (Juventus), Hjalmar Ekdal (Burnley), Erik Smith (St. Pauli)
Midfielders & forwards: Taha Ali (Malmo FF), Yasin Ayari (Brighton & Hove Albion), Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham Hotspur), Anthony Elanga (Newcastle United), Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal), Jesper Karlstrom (Udinese), Gustaf Nilsson (Club Brugge), Benjamin Nygren (Celtic), Mattias Svanberg (VfL Wolfsburg), Besfort Zeneli (Royale Union Saint-Gilloise), Alexander Isak (Liverpool), Alexander Bernhardsson (Holstein Kiel), Ken Sema (Pafos)
