Sweden: World Cup qualification achieved, but defensive concerns linger

Sweden secured their place at the World Cup through the playoffs, overcoming Ukraine 3-1 before narrowly defeating Poland 3-2 in the decisive clash. For Graham Potter, qualification marked an important milestone and strengthened confidence in his project, but recent performances have also highlighted some worrying defensive shortcomings.

A 1-3 loss to Norway raised serious concerns, particularly because Sweden were already three goals down before halftime — and notably, Norway managed it without Erling Haaland. Defensive stability has been a recurring issue under Potter, with Sweden conceding 11 goals and failing to record a single clean sheet across five matches. With a demanding World Cup group featuring the Netherlands, Japan, and Tunisia, tightening up at the back has quickly become a priority.

Greece: qualification disappointment and attacking struggles

Greece endured another frustrating qualifying campaign, finishing third in a group alongside Scotland and Denmark. Despite positive signs during the Nations League — including a memorable victory over England at Wembley in late 2024 — Ivan Jovanović’s side failed to carry that momentum into the decisive stage and once again missed out on a World Cup berth.

At present, Greece’s biggest concern lies in attack. The team has failed to score in three consecutive matches, including a narrow 0-1 defeat to Paraguay and goalless draws against Belarus and Hungary. While their midfield structure remains disciplined and organized, a lack of creativity and finishing in the final third continues to hold them back.

Match facts & head-to-head

Sweden have won just two of their last nine matches since September 2025 despite successfully advancing through the playoffs

Greece have failed to score in three straight fixtures against Belarus, Paraguay, and Hungary

The last meeting between the sides came in October 2021, when Sweden claimed a 2-1 home victory in World Cup qualifying

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