News Focus
- Sweden announce their World Cup squad for the tournament return after missing the previous finals
- Three Bundesliga stars feature, including Daniel Svensson from Borussia Dortmund
- Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Larsson left out despite excellent second-half form
- Holstein Kiel winger Alexander Bernhardsson earns selection from Germany’s second tier
- St. Pauli defender Eric Smith included amid rumours of a summer transfer exit
Sweden have named their squad for the upcoming World Cup, marking their comeback to the global stage. National team boss Graham Potter has selected three players from Germany’s top flight and one from the division below.
Borussia Dortmund defender Daniel Svensson joins the group after playing every minute of the league campaign so far. The 24-year-old will fight for a starting place on the left side with Leeds United’s Gabriel Gudmundsson. He enters the international break in high spirits following his club’s 3-2 win against Eintracht Frankfurt.
St. Pauli centre-back Eric Smith and VfL Wolfsburg midfielder Mattias Svanberg are the other German-based players. The pair will clash on Saturday in a vital relegation battle before meeting up for national duty. Smith missed previous playoff matches with injury but now hopes to win his first cap. Svanberg recently completed his 100th Bundesliga game and appeared as a substitute in the qualifying victories.
Holstein Kiel’s Alexander Bernhardsson also makes the team despite playing in the second tier. The wide man scored twice and set up nine goals during the qualifying rounds. He missed the playoff games through injury but started five of the six group matches.
However, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Larsson will not travel to the finals. Reports claim the young midfielder was heartbroken when Potter told him the news. Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Hugo Bolin and former Schalke attacker Jordan Larsson, son of legend Henrik, are also left out.
Alexander Isak has been picked despite fitness troubles during his first season at Liverpool. The forward will compete for places with Arsenal’s Viktor Gyökeres and Newcastle United’s Anthony Elanga.
Sweden will play Tunisia, the Netherlands, and Japan in the group stage. The Scandinavian nation last appeared at the World Cup in 2018.