Injury Woes Threaten Swedish National Team Ahead of November World Cup Qualifiers

As Sweden prepares for crucial World Cup qualifiers against Switzerland on November 15 and Slovenia on November 18, head coach Graham Potter faces significant challenges due to the injuries of key players. Arsenal forward Viktor Gyökeres is sidelined with a muscle strain sustained during a Premier League match against Burnley. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that Gyökeres missed training and will not participate in the upcoming Champions League match against Slavia Prague as further testing is underway to assess his fitness.

Lucas Bergvall, who suffered a concussion in a match against Chelsea, has been confirmed to miss the next two national team matches, as stated by his club coach Thomas Frank. Meanwhile, Alexander Isak, Sweden's record goal scorer, remains out due to an injury sustained during Liverpool's Champions League match against Frankfurt. Isak has missed the last three Liverpool matches and was absent from training sessions before the team's upcoming game against Real Madrid, with his availability still uncertain for the national team fixtures.

These injury concerns complicate Potter's squad selection for his first assignment as Sweden's manager after replacing Jon Dahl Tomasson following a poor World Cup qualifying start. The Swedish Football Association also recently faced a 60,000 kronor fine due to fan misconduct during the Swiss national anthem, adding pressure on the team to maintain discipline.

Potter expressed pride in his new role and determination to fulfill supporters' aspirations, but the fitness status of these pivotal players leaves uncertainty around Sweden's strongest lineup heading into the matches. Continued monitoring of Gyökeres and Isak's injuries will be crucial in the coming days as squad decisions are finalized.