When Graham Potter strode out to Sweden training last week donning a Stetson, it was a bit of fun to get into the World Cup mood as they prepared for the tournament in Texas.
Some might have quipped that the cowboy hat was fitting for a manager who was maybe drinking in last-chance saloon following back-to-back sackings in his previous jobs lasting a combined 15 months.
But at Estadio Monterrey in Mexico, Potter’s side showed they mean business in this competition after the fun at training from their head coach.
A ruthless Sweden side stuck five past Tunisia as they tore their Group F rivals apart.
For a manager who was dismissed by West Ham in September after failing at Chelsea before that, few would have expected him to be steering a nation to a winning start in the World Cup this summer.
“You never know, that’s the truth,” said Potter after the 5-1 win. “You never know how things are going to go. We were optimistic because we felt confident in the work.
“But until the game is played you don’t know for sure. That’s the beauty of sport. We are delighted with how 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 overseen by Potter’s predecessor Jon Dahl Tomasson.
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 back in October but the damage was done and he could not stop them finishing bottom of the group behind Switzerland, Kosovo and Slovenia without a single victory in six games.
However, they reached the play-off path courtesy of their Uefa Nations League ranking (34).
That gave Potter the chance to help Sweden to the World Cup but also show those doubting his managerial credentials that he still has what it takes to deliver on the big stage.
They beat Ukraine and Poland to get to this tournament in those play-offs and now, after this thrashing of Tunisia, they will be confident of progressing to the knockout stages.
