Sweden sack Tomasson after Isak and Gyokeres flop again against Kosovo

• Last Update: October 14, 2025 02:30:56 pm BST • 3 min read

Sweden have sacked head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson following the 1-0 defeat to Kosovo last night that has left their World Cup hopes hanging by a thread.

Dane Tomasson becomes the first man ever to be sacked by Sweden in what felt an inevitable move given the country’s woeful qualifying campaign.

The loss to Kosovo meant the team have taken just a solitary point from their first four games and sit bottom of Group B.

Swift u-turn from Kallstrom

Speaking after last night’s game, the Swedish FA’s football director Kim Kallstrom said: “We have full confidence in our coach, until we don’t.”

That confidence lasted just 16 hours as a statement this lunchtime confirmed Tomasson’s departure.

Swedish FA chairman Simon Åström said in a statement: “The decision taken by the association’s board is based on the men’s national team not delivering the results we hoped for. There is still a chance of a playoff in March and our responsibility is to ensure that we have the best possible conditions to be able to reach a World Cup finals. 

“In this, we assess that new leadership is required in the form of a new national team coach.”

Kallstrom added: “We have a group of players that we believe in very much and want to create new opportunities for them to deliver. We believe that this team can make it to the World Cup if the chance for the playoffs exists in March.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jon. Jon has been professional in his relationship with the players, the leaders in the national team staff and with the Swedish Football Association. It is always sad to go our separate ways, but football is based on results and we have reached a point where results are not good enough.”

Isak and Gyokeres stunted by Kosovo

Despite having a strikeforce of Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres worth a combined £180million, Sweden have failed to shine under Tomasson, who departs after 18 games in charge.

Asked directly if he retained faith in Tomasson after the game last night, Liverpool star Isak swerved the question and replied: “We’re just so disappointed that we’re making everyone unhappy. As players, we take a lot of responsibility ourselves. We need to look in the mirror. 

“No one is spared. Not us as players. Not us as a team, coach or anything around us. But we’re not going to end up with those questions [about Tomasson’s future] today.”

Gyokeres added: “It’s clear it’s a fiasco.”

Even though Sweden are unlikely to secure a play-off spot via their qualifying group, they could still get in through the back door by virtue of winning their Nations League group last year — albeit after dropping into the third of four tiers in European football.