Switzerland vs Sweden preview: Can Potter’s side break hosts’ eight-game unbeaten run?

Switzerland’s meeting with Sweden in Geneva on Saturday is expected to move Murat Yakin’s side a step closer to sealing World Cup qualification, yet the context surrounding the visitors ensures the match may not be as straightforward as the form guide indicates.

Switzerland remain unbeaten in Group B and have played with the poise of a team that expect to be in North America next summer, but Sweden’s recent managerial change adds a layer of uncertainty to a fixture that would otherwise look routine.

Yakin’s team have set the standard in the group with ten points from four games, supported by a defensive record that has made them the most secure side in the qualifying phase. They have not conceded a goal, they have not lost a competitive match in eight outings, and they have kept five consecutive clean sheets across all competitions.

Even the draw with Slovenia last time out did little to disturb the rhythm they have carried since the start of the campaign, and their long unbeaten run at home strengthens the expectation that they will control the tempo again on Saturday.

The Swiss have been consistent qualifiers for nearly two decades and their current trajectory reinforces that reputation. They have combined stability in possession with a disciplined press out of it, and they have shown enough depth to adjust smoothly when required.

With the group entering its final stretch, another win would give them a margin of comfort before a potentially decisive closing round.

Sweden arrive in Geneva in a very different position. They sit bottom of the group with one point and have struggled through a qualification campaign that has lacked fluency, authority and attacking threat.

Their 2-0 defeat to Switzerland in the reverse fixture typified a run in which they have scored only twice and conceded seven in four matches, prompting the Swedish FA to dismiss Jon Dahl Tomasson and appoint Graham Potter in an effort to stop the slide.

Potter’s arrival is intended to reset the team’s structure and mentality, even if expectations of an immediate transformation are measured. His presence, however, offers Sweden a chance to stabilise and perhaps generate a short-term response, which has often been the case when national teams appoint new managers during difficult spells.

Sweden still have a theoretical path to the playoffs through their Nations League ranking, and that faint possibility may be enough to drive a performance built on urgency rather than resignation.

Switzerland remain clear favourites given their form and the tactical clarity of their campaign so far. Yet Sweden’s need for a reaction, combined with the boost of a new coach, means the hosts may have to work harder than the group table suggests if they want to maintain their control of Group B.