Tomasson: Isak and Gyokeres can play together

The Sweden coach believes his superstar strikers can form a potent attacking line, as the Blagult look to return to the World Cup next year.

• Jon Dahl Tomasson has been speaking with FIFA

• The Sweden coach is eyeing a return to the World Cup at next year's finals

• He believes Alexander Isak and Victor Gyokeres can form a strike force to get them there

It’s been a difficult stretch that must feel like an eternity for fans of the Blågult. After missing out on both the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ and UEFA EURO 2024, Sweden pressed the reset button in spring 2024 by appointing Jon Dahl Tomasson as head coach. The 48-year-old has been tasked with rejuvenating the team, establishing a clear identity, and bringing Swedish fans back from the sofa to the stands after two missed major tournaments. 

Ahead of Sweden beginning their FIFA World Cup 26™ qualifying campaign in September, he sat down FIFA to discuss his philosophy, a front line bursting with talent, and his goal of returning the Scandinavian powerhouses to the world stage.

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FIFA: You are the first foreign Swedish national coach in history, but you grew up just across from Malmo. To what extend is Sweden more than a neighbor to you?   

Tomasson: Sweden and Denmark are like two brothers when it comes to football. In our international games I have always felt like playing against your brother, and when you do that, you always want to beat him. I can see that at home with my two sons every day - they love to compete in a good way. If you lose, you're extremely disappointed, but if you win, you're overjoyed. Both Sweden and Denmark are major football nations with rich histories, and of course it is special with the close neighbourhood.

Your successful past as coach of Malmo surely played a large role when Sweden were looking for a new coach. What impressions of Swedish football did you gain during your time there from 2020-2021?  

My task at Malmo FF was to win matches while developing an exciting, distinctive style of play with new, young players. We managed to win two Swedish league titles in two years and qualify for the Champions League group stages, which was a huge achievement for the club. During this time, I also learned a great deal about Allsvenskan, the top league in Sweden. The atmosphere in the stands is incredible, and there is a strong passion surrounding the league. Swedish football is excellent at nurturing talent, with many players making the leap to international stages at an early age right now.  

Prior to that, you spent a few years as assistant coach of Denmark. How valuable was that time for your development as a coach and also for accepting the role as Sweden coach?  

Yes, I was an assistant coach with Denmark from 2016 to 2019, working alongside Age Hareide. During this time, we were quite successful, going unbeaten for three and a half years. We qualified for and played at the 2018 World Cup, and then we qualified for the Euro 2020 before I chose to leave to go to Malmo FF. This period gave me a lot of experience of working with national team football and dealing with the unique challenges of having very little time to work with the players. It taught me how to maximise everyone's potential in a short period. It was a special time with some great moments, and national team football has a special place in my heart, since it has been a part of almost my entire adult life.

Sweden missed out on UEFA EURO 2024, which was a setback for the team's development. What steps did you undertake to turn the team's fortunes around?   

Sweden has a rich footballing history, but as you mentioned, missed out on Euro 2024 and also World Cup 2022. My task coming in as head coach was to implement a modern style of football and of course try to get results. In the first year, we made a significant turnaround, starting with the Nations League, where we won our group. Over the course of six games, we registered 152 shots — an average of more than 25 per game — and scored 19 goals, the most of any team in the competition. That tells a lot about how we want to play in an attacking style of football. We've also integrated many new players into the squad, with 13 players making their debut for the senior team in 2024.

Can you tell us a little bit about your coaching philosophy? What style would you like your team to play?   

After one year as head coach of Sweden, we are beginning to establish a clear identity and style of play. Everyone can now look at the team and say, 'This is Sweden, and this is how they play.' We are front-footed, aggressive, and intense, with a focus on high pressing, controlling possession, and creating chances.  

My football philosophy is built on several key principles. We aim for quick, fluid football with one or two touches in rapid succession, ensuring constant movement off the ball. I believe in playing with tempo, looking to shift the ball quickly and find openings in the opposition’s defence. We prioritise to play forward, always looking to progress the ball and create goal-scoring opportunities. Our mentality is to dominate the game, be proactive, and put pressure on the opponent both in and out of possession. The focus is on team cohesion, high intensity, and a collective mindset to ensure everyone contributes to our style of play.

Your strikers Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres have been doing exceptionally well at club level. You must be thrilled with their development, or is the hype getting a bit too much for your taste?    

It can never be too much! They deserve all the attention they can get. They are hard-working professionals who are able to handle the pressure, and they bring their success from club football into the national team. We are fortunate to have both Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres up front, but in general we have a good squad with a lot of exciting talent. When I started there was some doubt from other people about whether the two of them – Isak and Gyokeres - could play together. Now, I don’t think anyone would question that. We also have Dejan Kulusevski, and this trio has the potential to create a lot together.  

However, they need the support of the entire team - every single player is important in my style of football. It’s crucial that everybody works hard to win the ball back and play it forward with quick touches. That’s how we set them up for success – putting them in the right position to make the most of their abilities. 

You drew Switzerland, Slovenia and Kosovo for the upcoming World Cup qualifying campaign. With the World Cup expanded, how confident are you that you can make it to the finals in 2026?  

Going into the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, we are not the favorites in our group. When you haven’t performed well in qualifiers for a few years, you’re not seeded. We are in a group with Switzerland, who are top-seeded and a very solid team that has done really well in recent years. Then there’s Slovenia, who reached the knockout stages of Euro 2024, and Kosovo, who had a strong Nations League campaign. So, we are not the favorites, but we must believe in our huge potential. We will approach every game with the mindset to win it. We need to stay humble, but still very ambitious.

Please tell us why a World Cup in Canada, Mexico and USA would be so much more colourful and atmospheric with Swedish fans there?   

Swedish supporters are known for painting the stands yellow during World Cups and Euros. They are passionate, dedicated, and an essential part of our journey. We’ve asked them to join us since we started the 'new era' getting into the World Cup campaign later on, and they deserve a major tournament. We want to achieve this together with our supporters.