Graham Potter Hails 89th-Minute Gyokeres Winner Over Poland
graham potter called Sweden’s World Cup play-off win over Poland the best night of his career after Viktor Gyokeres struck in the 89th minute at the Strawberry Arena in Stockholm. Sweden needed that late goal to seal a place at the World Cup, a run that only became possible because of their Nations League route into the play-offs.
Gyokeres at Strawberry Arena
Gyokeres finished the job in the 89th minute, and Potter did not hide how high he ranked the result. “The best night of my career.” he said of the victory, which sent Sweden through at the Strawberry Arena.
Potter said the celebration did not end with the final whistle. “If you go to YouTube, you can watch the Swedish commentary.” he said, and also described how he marked the result: “Got f****** p****d!”
Potter's Sweden return
The win carries extra weight because Sweden finished bottom of their qualifying group and needed their Nations League performance to claim one of the four play-off spots. That route turned a difficult qualifying campaign into a chance they used, with Sweden now heading to only their second World Cup appearance since 2006.
For Potter, the night tied together a long connection to the country. He took the Sweden job in October, extended his contract to 2030 after the win, and said, “Two of my kids were born in Sweden.” He also looked back on his seven years with Ostersunds, saying, “I had seven unbelievable years there, memories that will stay with me for life.”
Potter, Isak and Gyokeres
Potter’s own words frame why the result landed so strongly. “For seven years it was my home.” he said of Sweden, adding, “I feel very Swedish.”
He has also been adjusting to the spotlight that comes with the role. “I've got one of those faces that gets recognised, which is not a positive thing” he said, while the tournament itself now brings a direct coaching test with Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak in the squad picture ahead of the World Cup. Potter, whose last two club roles were with Chelsea and West Ham, also said he will sing Sweden's national anthem at the tournament.
