Few teams at the 2026 World Cup have undergone a transformation as quickly as Sweden’s. After a disastrous European qualifying campaign in which the Blågult finished bottom of their group, World Cup qualification seemed impossible. However, a previous top finish in the UEFA Nations League gave Sweden a welcome lifeline by securing a World Cup play-off spot. With the appointment of the experienced Graham Potter, Sweden progressed through the play-offs to secure a World Cup berth.
Following the return of Alexander Isak from injury and Gyokeres in red-hot form for Sweden in the play-offs, Potter faces a puzzle. He has one of Europe’s most feared strike partnerships, now with almost €200 million in transfer fees at his disposal and capable of destroying any defense at the World Cup. Now the question remains how Potter unlocks their combined potential without tactically disrupting their side and each other.
An overview of the Swedish Deadly Duo
Gyokeres is fresh from a victorious season at Arsenal, having played an integral role in the Premier League and Champions League final triumph. After signing from Sporting CP in the summer, he scored 21 goals in all competitions but was forced to play second fiddle when Mikel Arteta had a fit Kai Havertz at his disposal. Yet the 28-year-old has been an indispensable asset to the national team. He scored four goals in the play-offs, including the winning goal in the final, to secure Sweden’s path to North America.
Swedish head coach Graham Potter has stuck to a 3-4-3 shape for most of his short spell. | Photo credit: AP
Swedish head coach Graham Potter has stuck to a 3-4-3 shape for most of his short spell. | Photo credit: AP
Isak, meanwhile, had endured an indifferent campaign at Liverpool. After completing a British transfer from Tyneside to Merseyside for an exorbitant £125 million, the striker has scored just four times in all competitions. For Sweden, the Liverpool striker has scored once since the start of the qualifiers after being sidelined in the crucial play-offs due to injury.
A proven blueprint?
With Sweden about to start their World Cup campaign against Tunisia, Potter must now decide how to deploy his two frontline talismans.
Since the start of Potter’s tenure, Tre Kronor has adopted a 3-4-3 formation, with Gyokeres leading the charge. But with Isak’s return ahead of the World Cup, Potter has made a 3-5-2 to accommodate the Liverpool striker in his last friendly against Greece, resulting in a 2-2 draw.
In the duo’s previous performance, Isak mainly occupied a deeper position as the inventive “9.5”. Instead of operating completely centrally, he would occasionally drift to the left, positioning himself in the gap between the midfield and the opponent’s defensive lines. His attack partner, meanwhile, acted as a conventional “9”; luring defenders out of position and running towards goal to disrupt the opponent’s defensive lines.
The prospect of playing both valuable assets has presented Potter with a tactical conundrum in a short space of time. But past experience shows that playing the two together may not yield the desired results. Former Swedish head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson played Gyokeres and Isak together in a similar system that results in losses against Switzerland and Kosovo, ultimately leading to Tomasson’s dismissal.
Could a 4-4-2 provide the answer?
Although rarely maneuvered by a Potter side, a shock 4-4-2 could be in the cards to fine-tune the balance.
A system used routinely by the Norwegian team, who face an identical striker dilemma as the Swedes. With Gyokeres filling the role of goalkeeper, Isak could play as an inside forward, who can cut inside with either foot. This allows more movement down the right flank for the overlapping full-backs to find the towering attackers in the center and back post.
Whether Potter continues with his familiar 3-5-2 or explores a more adventurous 4-4-2, the end goal remains the same for Potter: to make the Blågult real contenders on football’s biggest stage.
Published on June 14, 2026
