Potter loses first game with Sweden to Swiss
Graham Potter's first game in charge of Sweden resulted in a heavy 4-1 defeat to Switzerland, which is now virtually assured of automatic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Potter was appointed as Sweden's new head coach last month, with the team bottom of Group B in the UEFA qualification process with just a single point from four games.
It was already guaranteed a play-off place because of its UEFA Nations League performance, but with top spot out of reach, Potter fielded a weakened team, with Alexander Isak only coming on as a 62nd-minute substitute and Viktor Gyokeres out injured.
Breel Embolo struck first for Switzerland, but Benjamin Nygren got the visitors level in the 33rd minute.
However, Switzerland pulled clear in the second half with Granit Xhaka, Dan Ndoye and Johan Manzambi on target.
Murat Yakin's side will visit Kosovo for its final game on Wednesday (AEDT), knowing only a defeat of six goals or more would see it slide into the play-offs.
Kosovo beat Slovenia 2-0 in the other game in Group B on Saturday, ending its opponent's hopes of qualification.
Elsewhere, Austria inched closer to sealing its spot at the tournament with a 2-0 win in Cyprus.
It is two points clear of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the top of Group H, and a point at home to its closest rival on Wednesday (AEDT) would stamp its ticket to the FIFA World Cup.
Romania is third and will advance to the play-offs as a result of its UEFA Nations League performance, having lost 3-1 in Zenica in its penultimate match.
In Group E, Turkiye beat Bulgaria 2-0, with Hakan Calhanoglu scoring a first-half penalty before Atanas Chernev put through his own net.
It is three points behind leader Spain, but would require a seven-goal victory in Seville this week to leapfrog La Roja and avoid the play-offs.

































