'Cheap' Swedish defence causing Potter headaches as Ali silences his doubters

[p]An elite striking partnership getting minutes together; a recovery from an early setback; a potential breakout star playing a big role in the goal to go in front; and a victory - [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sweden/OQyqbHWB/"]Sweden[/a] had all the ingredients for a positive World Cup send-off in front of their home fans.[/p][p]Only for it to be ruined in the 95th minute when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/masouras-georgios/Ma5qH2yn/"]Georgios Masouras[/a] turned in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kostoulas-charalampos/GA3CqpgC/"]Charalampos Kostoulas[/a]' cross to earn [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/greece/COuk57Ci/"]Greece[/a] a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/greece-COuk57Ci/sweden-OQyqbHWB/?mid=nVbellBj"]2-2 draw[/a], and suddenly the mood around Potter's team had turned sour.[/p][p]His is a team which has conceded five times in its two warm-up matches and 13 times in Potter's six matches in charge so far, keeping no clean sheets. Defensive solidity has been an issue since before the Englishman took charge - a 2-0 friendly win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/hungary/MTVhw6Go/"]Hungary[/a] a year ago tomorrow (6th June) is the last time Sweden went 90 minutes without conceding.[/p][p][b]"We have to get better there, it's too cheap,"[/b] Potter said of his defence. [b]"We can talk tactics all day, but if you give the ball away the way we did today, the opponents get dangerous chances."[/b][/p][p]The back line was missing captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lindelof-victor/OIp0Le1f/"]Victor Lindelof[/a], who is expected to come straight back in for the side's opening game of the World Cup [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/sweden-OQyqbHWB/tunisia-QqZVYk95/?mid=UaJKzaHN"]against Tunisia on 15th June[/a]. The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/aston-villa/W00wmLO0/"]Aston Villa[/a] man's place may be safe, but Potter suggested there are still ways to break into his team ahead of the tournament.[/p][embed guid="7fd088e2-d761-4871-90f6-af4a73a478af" url="https://x.com/svenskfotboll/status/2062610169196917057" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"I have a lot of positions in mind, but there is still time and space. We have over a week of training until the opener. It is a balance between having an environment where there is competition and, at the same time, needing stability."[/b][/p][h2]Ali answers the critics[/h2][p]There were question marks over the inclusion of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ali-taha/no0y4BJ5/"]Taha Ali[/a] in the 26-man squad at the expense of the likes of LaLiga duo [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/swedberg-williot/KluZeL4G/"]Williot Swedberg[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bardagji-roony/YgzDTaqN/"]Roony Bardghji[/a] - the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/malmo-ff/tYNTdpar/"]Malmo[/a] winger's only cap prior came in a January 2024 friendly against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/estonia/YJwM4R15/"]Estonia[/a], and he was unused on his recall to the squad for the play-offs.[/p][p]But within minutes of coming off the bench, Ali answered many of those questions with a mazy, pacy dribble down the left wing before cutting the ball across for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nilsson-gustaf/zofKop0A/"]Gustaf Nilsson[/a] to tap in and put Sweden 2-1 ahead, after a free-kick from birthday boy [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gyokeres-viktor/zaBZ1xIk/"]Viktor Gyokeres[/a] had cancelled out [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tsimikas-konstantinos/SEyNdMro/"]Kostas Tsimikas[/a]' opener.[/p][p][b]"I was in shock, not because of what he did, because we've seen that before and we've seen that in training. But it was very impressive to see such a performance,"[/b] said [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/isak-alexander/p41IV42c/"]Alexander Isak[/a], who was one of nine players to come off just after the hour mark. [b]"It's like he's been with us for years. We were very excited on the bench,"[/b] he continued.[/p][embed guid="35a678e5-6eb2-4008-98c9-c6b834c5135b" url="https://x.com/svenskfotboll/status/2062607519298502907" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"Incredible substitute appearance! He adds something that few other players do,"[/b] added the head coach, who wouldn't be drawn into whether the 27-year-old had done enough to start against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tunisia/QqZVYk95/"]Tunisia[/a].[/p][p]As for Ali - who spoke exclusively to Flashscore about his World Cup ambitions back in April - last night was all about showing Potter that he can be relied on.[/p][p][b]"I wanted to create trust in the coach so that he knows what he's getting from me. It's clear what kind of player I am. I just want to do my thing,"[/b] said the Allsvenskan player.[/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/elanga-anthony/dOlRWlZ6/"]Elanga[/a] given all-clear after hospital visit[/h2][p]In a physical encounter with the former European champions, Gyokeres, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nygren-benjamin/WCHWGOvf/"]Benjamin Nygren[/a] and Anthony Elanga all suffered knocks, but thankfully, there are no real injury concerns for [i]Blagult [/i]before they board the plane.[/p][p]Elanga was taken to hospital as a precaution, but the scans revealed no damage. [b]"It was knee-to-knee with one of their players. But I'm not worried. I've been tested and it feels good. Of course you get worried, but it feels good,"[/b] he told the media.[/p][p]For Nygren, there was a more rudimentary check: [b]"I can walk, move and stand on one leg and all that. It feels okay,"[/b] he said.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/soccer/world/world-championship/"]Follow Sweden at the 2026 World Cup on Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]