From last-chance saloon to World Cup redemption for Potter

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.

This was not in the plan for Potter, of course. He began the season as West Ham head coach but was sacked in late September.

Potter had won just six of his 23 Premier League games in charge of the Hammers. It followed an unsuccessful stint at Chelsea where the job appeared too big for him after he had impressed at Brighton.

The Solihull-born coach had become bristly with the media during his time in England in high-pressured jobs.

But he seems refreshed and reborn in the Sweden role. He is back in the country he really cut his teeth as a manager, where he took Ostersunds FK from the fourth tier to the top flight, winning the domestic cup and leading them into their first European campaign.

It is why, before the tournament, he spoke to BBC Sport, about how he feels Swedish.

"I feel very Swedish when I'm working," he said. "I even look a bit Swedish. Two of my children were born in Sweden. I had seven unforgettable years at Ostersunds, with memories that will stay with me for life.

"I came from the fourth tier of Swedish football, which is quite low, and worked my way up through the system to the Allsvenskan.

"You almost become Swedish in a coaching sense because of the experiences you have. I think it has definitely helped.

"Now I'm working for the Swedish FA as head coach of the national team, so I feel very Swedish."

On his Instagram account, Potter has shared images of himself exploring the country's natural landscapes with his family, reading Nordic literature and taking part in cultural events.

Yet he has obviously not just been busy being a tourist but has been working hard to prepare them for this and they could not have got off to a better start.

The return to full fitness of Liverpool striker Alexander Isak is of course a major positive and how the £125m player linked up well with Arsenal frontman Viktor Gyokeres will be a joy for Potter to see.

The pair both assisted each other for their goals which will delight their manager.

That is an expensive yet, formidable attack for the country back on international football's biggest stage after missing out on the 2022 tournament in Qatar and they can give any nation problems if they're firing.

Potter must blend the rest of the squad together and, given only Victor Lindelof has played in this competition before - goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfelt was an unused substitute in Russia in 2018 - they will need guidance if they are to beat the odds and go further than many are expecting them to.

But given this format it means they are already well-placed to reach the last 32.

Of course, there will be obviously tougher tests than Tunisia, who are ranked 56th in the world. That will come against Netherlands on Saturday (18:00 BST).

"We just focus on what we can do, we focus on our performances," Potter added in his post-match press conference.

"It doesn't matter what people think from the outside or opinions.

"That's the beauty of the World Cup everyone has predictions and forecasts but we have to focus on our job and how we play as a team.

"We will meet another top team at the weekend who are one of the favourites for the competition."

Sweden's best performance in this tournament came 68 years ago, when as hosts they finished as runners-up to a Pele-inspired Brazil.

The manager of that 1958 team was another Englishman, George Raynor.

Sweden finished third in 1994 when the competition was staged in the USA.

Good omens for Potter? It is certainly looking more positive for the cowboy hat-wearing manager.