Sweden Lose Five More Players to Illness Ahead of Bosnia Nations League Trip

Sweden have been hit by a further five absences caused by a viral illness after their match against Poland, leaving Graham Potter with an emergency squad for Friday’s Nations League trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The outbreak has taken Sweden’s losses during this international window to 11 players. Taha Ali, Gustaf Nilsson and Mattias Svanberg withdrew before the camp began, while Emil Holm, Hjalmar Ekdal and Alexander Isak were subsequently ruled out. The latest illness cases have deepened the selection problem ahead of the game in Zenica.

Potter confirmed the situation at his pre-match media briefing, saying the group had been affected by “an infection or virus” and admitting it was “far from ideal”. He briefly joked that the number of absentees matched Manchester City’s criminal charges, before turning serious on the wider case involving the Premier League club.

“It is bad for football and for the English league,” Potter said. “It is sad, really.”

The Sweden coach insisted his focus must now remain on the players still available. “You would prefer a situation where everyone can play, but that is not reality,” he said. “You have to concentrate on the squad that is here.”

Sweden face unbeaten Bosnia test

The scale of the disruption has alarmed former Sweden forward Johan Elmander and analyst Magnus Eriksson, who said he could not remember seeing an injury and illness list of this size. Eriksson added that such a volume of missing players would inevitably damage Sweden’s prospects.

Potter’s side travel to Bilino Polje Stadium needing to protect first place and their perfect start in Nations League Group B4. Bosnia and Herzegovina have yet to lose in the group, having beaten Romania 4-2 before taking a draw away to Poland.

With Isak unavailable, Viktor Gyokeres carries an even greater share of Sweden’s attacking responsibility as the visitors attempt to take points from a difficult away fixture in Zenica.