Sweden have dismissed head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson after a run of poor results that leaves their World Cup qualification hopes hanging by a thread. The Danish former striker, who previously managed Blackburn Rovers, was sacked on Tuesday following a 2-0 defeat to Switzerland and a 1-0 loss to Kosovo within five days.
The Swedish Football Association's secretary general, Simon Åström, confirmed the decision, stating: 'The men's national team has not delivered the results we hoped for. There is still a chance of a playoff in March and our responsibility is to ensure that we have as optimal conditions as possible to be able to reach a World Cup playoff. In this, we assess that a new leadership is required in the form of a new coach.'
Tomasson's tenure was marked by underperformance despite a talented squad including Premier League stars Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres, as well as promising midfielders such as Lucas Bergvall and Daniel Svensson. Both Isak and Gyökeres were widely criticised for poor form in the recent internationals.
Fan discontent was evident, with banners at the Stockholm national stadium reading 'Resign JDT' and the derogatory 'danskjävel' directed at the Dane. Swedish media were equally scathing, with Expressen's Noa Bachner writing: 'I haven't been this sure since Alan Pardew managed Newcastle.'
Sweden now face a near-impossible task to qualify, needing a mathematical miracle in their final matches against Switzerland and Slovenia. The nation, which has produced greats like Henrik Larsson and Tomas Brolin, risks missing a second consecutive World Cup, while regional rivals Denmark and Norway lead their groups and even the Faroe Islands retain a slim chance of reaching North America in 2026.
