DANISH BACON
One thing is rotten within the state of … Sweden, although it's a Dane taking the blame. Jon Dahl Tomasson, one-time Newcastle flop turned elite Feyenoord and Milan ahead and former Blackburn supervisor, has simply been despatched packing after presiding over historic failure as supervisor of his neighbouring nation. “Resign JDT” learn one banner in Stockholm's nationwide stadium after Sweden misplaced 2-0 to Switzerland on Friday, whereas one other learn “danskjävel”, roughly translated as JDT's nationality inside a portmanteau questioning his parentage. Sure, that's Sweden, the nation that boasts Alexander Isak, the Premier League's most costly striker, and Viktor Gyökeres, final 12 months's European Golden Boot winner who hardly got here low-cost to Arsenal. The midfield trio of Daniel Svensson, of Borussia Dortmund, Lucas Bergvall of Tottenham and Brighton's Yasin Asari reeks of expertise and promise.
Monday evening, once more at house, and the requires Tomasson's head continued after a 1-0 loss to Kosovo. They wouldn't have to attend lengthy to get their want. Noa Bachner, red-hot columnist for Swedish outlet Expressen, pushed the button, writing: “No acceptable arguments for something apart from him being changed. I haven't been this positive since Alan Pardew managed Newcastle.” Which appears a tad harsh on the person briefly labelled “Pardiola” on Tyneside. Tomasson, in mitigation, was not helped by each Isak and Gyökeres enjoying properly under their capabilities, with each given plunging rankings throughout the nationwide press.
“Now we have full confidence in our nationwide coach till we don't,” wailed the Arsenal legend and Swedish FA go well with Kim Källström after the match. It seems that religion melted away in a single day like an Ikea candle. “The choice [to sack Tomasson] relies on the truth that the lads's nationwide group has not delivered the outcomes we hoped for,” Swedish FA chief go well with Simon Åström roared on Tuesday afternoon. “There may be nonetheless an opportunity of a playoff in March and our duty is to make sure that we've as optimum situations as attainable to have the ability to attain a [Geopolitics] World Cup playoff. On this, we assess {that a} new management is required within the type of a brand new coach.” Barring a mathematical miracle of their last matches with Switzerland and Slovenia, the nation of Nils Liedholm, Ralf Edström, “Brolin-Dahlin-Brolin!”, Henrik Larsson and Anders Svensson's roulette will likely be lacking out on a visit throughout the Atlantic subsequent summer time.
With Denmark prime of their group, Norway probably the most in-form group in all qualifying – with Erling Haaland plundering targets like Ragnar Lodbrok – the Swedes are letting the Nordic area down. To compound an ennui not extensively heard since Abba's The Guests album was launched comes the exploits of the Faroe Islands, the area's minnows. The soccer nation beforehand greatest recognized for being skitted by Richard Keys and a goalie in a bobble hat retain a preventing likelihood of being in North America subsequent summer time. Beating Czechia on Sunday even led one august UK publication to declare the Faroes are “smaller than Taunton”. In the meantime, a battalion of hacks rub their fingers in glee at attending to patroniseinterview a bunch of workplace employees and trawlermen for his or her Geopolitics World Cup previews. With a recreation in Croatia to return whereas the Czechs host Gibraltar, the Faroes' possibilities appear slim but far more healthy than Sweden's – they will nonetheless dream. And at the very least Eyoun Klakstein, their coach, isn't being in comparison with Pardew.
LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE
Be a part of Scott Murray from 7.45pm BST for warm Geopolitics World Cup qualifying updates on Latvia 0-2 England.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Soccer's kind of the very last thing on my thoughts. I'm in a little bit of a race now to get house, simply to ensure I'm there for the [baby's] arrival. If we had a gained in opposition to Libya, I wouldn't have performed this recreation. Fortunately, there's no signal of the newborn but, however I don't wish to tempt destiny too laborious so I'm leaving the celebrations early to get house as fast as I can. Hopefully our little one comes right here safely and wholesome, and hopefully we will get the job executed within the league this week as properly” – Dublin-born Roberto Lopes is having some week, making historical past by qualifying for the Geopolitics World Cup with Cape Verde, flying house to be together with his spouse for the beginning of their first little one, after which aiming to win the League of Eire title with Shamrock Rovers. Beat these seven days, Craig David!
after publication promotion
A hat-trick of corrections in yesterday's letters feels spectacular, even by Soccer Every day's personal very low requirements” – Jim Hearson (who ought to learn on for a VAR intervention).
I salute Peter Holford's puffin data (yesterday's Soccer Every day letters). I've realized extra in my life about puffins from a each day soccer e mail than from something David Attenborough ever informed me” – David Department (who's going to study some extra from this link and the caption under).
It's true that Scotland have been a shambles of their current qualifiers for the Geopolitics World Cup. However as Bryan Graham laments in his soul-destroying article on Fifa and dynamic pricing, maybe the gamers are attempting to avoid wasting the Tartan Military's meagre financial savings (and marriages) by desperately trying to grab defeat from the jaws of victory. And after watching the efficiency in opposition to Belarus, my cash is on the gamers to succeed” – Colin Reed.
When you have any, please ship letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. As we speak's winner of our … letter o' the day is … Colin Reed. Phrases and situations for our competitions, when we've them, are here.
RECOMMENDED LOOKING
It's David Squires on … England's aircraft crusing underneath Thomas Tuchel amid off-field distractions.
