Graham Potter adjusted his Stetson hat during a light-hearted training session in Texas last week, a playful nod to the World Cup stage he once thought might be beyond reach. Just months after being sacked by West Ham — following an equally turbulent spell at Chelsea — the 49-year-old Englishman has led Sweden to a stunning 5-1 demolition of Tunisia at Estadio Monterrey, reigniting not only his managerial career but Sweden’s World Cup hopes. The result was more than symbolic: Sweden scored five times against Tunisia, surpassing the four goals they managed throughout their entire qualifying group stage under Potter’s predecessor, Jon Dahl Tomasson. For a team that finished bottom of their qualifying group without a single win, this victory marks a dramatic turnaround. Potter, who previously transformed Ostersunds FK from Swedish fourth-tier obscurity to European competition, now finds himself back on familiar soil — both literally and professionally. Appointed Sweden’s head coach in October 2023, he guided them through a tense playoff path, defeating Ukraine and Poland to reach the tournament. Now, with a fully fit Alexander Isak — the £125 million Liverpool striker — linking up seamlessly with Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres, Sweden boasts one of the most dynamic attacking duos in the competition. The pair each scored and assisted in the match, a chemistry that bodes well for their next challenge: a clash with the Netherlands. While only Victor Lindelof has prior World Cup experience on the pitch (goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt was an unused substitute in 2018), Potter’s calm leadership and deep connection to Swedish football culture appear to be galvanizing the squad. He speaks of feeling “very Swedish” in his coaching identity, having spent seven transformative years in the country, where two of his children were born. His Instagram reflects a life immersed in Nordic landscapes and literature, but behind the scenes, meticulous preparation has paid off in emphatic fashion. Ranked 56th globally, Tunisia proved no match for Sweden’s precision and pace. As Potter said after the match: “You never know how things are going to go. We were optimistic because we felt confident in the work.” With momentum building and belief soaring, Sweden is no longer just participating — they’re threatening to make history.