Graham Potter: If you have the players behind you, then you have a chance

Sweden's national football team coach, Graham Potter, made several changes to the squad for their World Cup match against Japan, a decision that paid off with a 1-1 draw. This result secured their progression to the knockout stages as one of the best third-placed teams in the group phase. Potter's choice to start Anthony Elanga also proved fruitful, as the winger scored the equalizer.

“Everyone was active in organizing the game, so I didn't feel anything too different, although I understand that squad rotations can lead to a big change,” Potter stated at the post-match press conference. “If you have the players behind you, if you have support, then you have a chance,” added Graham Potter, who also expressed his happiness that his team is advancing in the 2026 World Cup. “First, we need to recover the players and ensure we are in a good physical position, regardless of who we play. If you had told me this would be the challenge we face, I would definitely have accepted it, so we are looking forward to it,” the English specialist further commented.