Graham Potter Sets Out Viktor Gyokeres Plan Before Sweden Opener

Graham Potter has made it clear Sweden cannot simply rely on Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak to decide games on their own at the World Cup.

The Sweden head coach was asked about Gyokeres before his side’s opening group game against Tunisia, with the Arsenal striker heading into the tournament as one of the most important players in Potter’s squad.

Gyokeres arrives with major expectations around him. His goalscoring record has made him one of Sweden’s headline names, but Potter’s answer was less about individual status and more about making sure the team is built to get the most from him.

“He’s obviously had a fantastic season,” Potter said.

“We want to use him to his best, try and get the most out of him. Because if we do, then he gives us a chance to win football matches. That’s for sure.”

Gyokeres has already shown how damaging he can be when the game is built around his movement, power and finishing. Sweden now needs to make sure he is not left isolated in a tournament where small details can change a group very quickly.

That means more than simply picking the Arsenal forward and waiting for a moment to happen. Potter wants Sweden’s attacking players to be used in a way that brings out what they already do best.

“You want to ask all the players to do things that they’re good at and play to their strengths and show their quality,” he said.

“If we get our players showing their qualities, then I think we’ve got a good chance to win football matches.”

The more interesting part came when Potter was asked whether Gyokeres and Isak, two of the best-known forwards in the squad, were Sweden’s biggest strength.

Potter did not dismiss their quality, but pushed the answer back towards the team as a collective. That feels important before Tunisia. Sweden has two forwards capable of deciding matches, but Potter clearly does not want the rest of the team to play as though the forwards can fix everything on their own.

“The team is the biggest strength. Of course, within the team, there are individuals that, if we can get them to play to their highest level, they can make the difference for us.

“But if we just put Victor and Alex out there and there isn’t a functioning team behind them, it isn’t easy to win football matches.”

Tunisia qualified with a strong defensive record, and Potter is well aware of how compact, organised and dangerous they can be in transition. Sweden may have the more eye-catching attacking names, but they will still need structure around them.

Gyokeres should be central to that plan. Potter knows the quality he brings, and the challenge now is to turn that into chances in a World Cup setting.

If Sweden are going to make a strong start, Gyokeres will need service, support and space to attack. Potter’s answers made clear he sees that as a team job, not just a question of asking his forwards to find something on their own.