Graham Potter names Sweden squad for FIFA World Cup, Dejan Kulusevski left out

STOCKHOLM: Sweden coach Graham Potter has left Tottenham Hotspur forward Dejan Kulusevski out of his World Cup squad, confirming on Tuesday that the injured winger has not recovered in time for the tournament.

Kulusevski has been sidelined for a year with a knee injury, and although some had hoped for a late recovery, Potter ruled out a surprise inclusion in his final 26-man squad.

“It’s a very, very difficult decision in terms of where he’s been and where he’s at in his rehab with four and a half weeks to go to the first game,” Potter said at a press conference.

“Once the tournament starts, you can’t really start building players up in big spaces and expect them to reach the required level. So you have to make a very tough decision.”

There were no major surprises in Potter’s squad, but Kulusevski’s omission was the biggest talking point, given his importance to Sweden when fully fit.

Meanwhile, Liverpool forward Alexander Isak has been included despite injury concerns, with Potter expressing optimism about his recovery.

“We hope he finishes the season with some game time,” Potter said. “Our challenge is to get Alex into the best possible condition so he can hit top form, because if he does, he is a world-class player.”

Sweden endured a difficult qualifying campaign, finishing bottom of their group with just two points, but secured a place at the finals via the playoffs after victories over Ukraine and Poland in UEFA Nations League C.

“It’s incredibly exciting and a huge honour,” Potter said. “The support from fans has been fantastic, and we’re looking forward to building something special at the World Cup.”

Sweden will begin their Group F campaign against Tunisia on June 14 in Guadalupe, Mexico, before facing the Netherlands in Houston and Japan in Arlington, Texas.

Sweden World Cup squadGoalkeepers

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 Gyökeres (Arsenal), Jesper Karlstrom (Udinese), Gustaf Nilsson (Club Brugge), Benjamin Nygren (Celtic), Mattias Svanberg (VfL Wolfsburg), Besfort Zeneli (Union Saint-Gilloise), Alexander Isak (Liverpool), Alexander Bernhardsson (Holstein Kiel), Ken Sema (Pafos)