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When Graham Potter donned the Stetson and stepped out to train in Sweden last week, it was a bit of fun getting into the World Cup mood as they prepared for the tournament in Texas.
Some may have quipped that the cowboy hat was appropriate for a manager who might have been drinking at a last-chance saloon for 15 months after being fired from his previous job.
But at the Estadio Monterrey in Mexico, Potter’s side showed they mean business in this competition after having fun in training from their head coach.
A ruthless Sweden side was held to five goals against Tunisia As they took apart their Group F rivals.
For a manager who was sacked by West Ham in September after failing at Chelsea earlier, Some expected him Leading a nation to a winning start at the World Cup this summer.
“You never know, that’s the truth,” Potter said after the 5-1 win. “You never know how things are going to go. We were optimistic because we were confident in the work.”
“But you never know for sure until the game. That’s the beauty of sport. We’re delighted with the way we performed tonight and it’s a great start for us.”
The five goals they scored against Tunisia was more than the four they scored in the entire group stage of their qualifying campaign – largely under the supervision of Potter’s predecessor John Dahl Thomasson.
It was under the Dane that Sweden’s hopes of automatic World Cup qualification from their group became impossible.
After his dismissal, Potter was appointed Sweden boss in October But the damage was done and six matches without a single win could not stop them finishing bottom of the group behind Switzerland, Kosovo and Slovenia.
However, they made it to the play-offs courtesy of their UEFA Nations League ranking (34).
It gives Potter the chance to help Sweden at the World Cup but show those doubting his managerial credentials that he still has what it takes to deliver on the big stage.
They beat Ukraine and Poland in this tournament to get to those play-offs and now, after beating Tunisia, they will be confident of advancing to the knockout stages.
