Graham Potter Brighton
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dejan Kulusevski has been left out of Sweden’s World Cup squad due to his ongoing battle with a knee injury. The decision, announced by Sweden’s head coach Graham Potter, marks a significant setback for the player who has been striving to regain full fitness.
Graham Potter said: “With Dejan, again just a very, very difficult decision. I think we have to think about what is right for the team, that’s important but also Dejan is in a place where he has had a long fight and he is making progress. I think it’s important now that this time he can really focus on getting himself ready for the start of the season. Dejan is at a stage where his rehab is so important and he has made some progress. I think the aim for him would be to start the next season with Tottenham, hit the ground running and to get back on the pitch and do the thing he loves. I think we have to be careful about that and ultimately that is the priority for him.”
Kulusevski’s exclusion from the squad comes as he continues to recover from a knee injury sustained during a Premier League match against Crystal Palace in May 2025. This injury has sidelined him for over a year, causing him to miss significant events, including Sweden’s World Cup qualification campaign and Tottenham’s Europa League triumph in Bilbao.
Graham Potter added: “Once those games start, you’re not in an area where you can do big 11 v 11 work, so it would be very, very difficult for him to get up to where we need him to be. Sometimes you have to take a decision of what does this look like. What is the impact for the player? What is the impact for the team? And it just felt in my stomach it was the right thing for us and for him, but of course now it’s tough to see that, because he wants to be there and he wants to play, I understand. He is a professional person and he accepts it, of course but it is also very difficult as it is with all the guys.”
Despite his absence from the World Cup squad, Kulusevski remains focused on his rehabilitation with the hope of returning to action for Tottenham at the start of the next season. His determination to play in the World Cup had been a significant motivator during his recovery process.
Dejan Kulusevski explained: “One hundred percent. Yes. That [the World Cup] is the driving force I have. To have that opportunity is absolutely fantastic. Now the second game starts. That’s how it has to end. Otherwise, it hasn’t gone as I planned. I’m absolutely convinced that we’ll win these two games and I’ll be ready to play and play my first World Cup in the USA. That’s how the movie will end, God willing.”
Roberto De Zerbi, who recently commented on Kulusevski’s situation, expressed skepticism about the player’s readiness for the World Cup given his lack of game time this season.
Roberto De Zerbi stated: “I don’t know the situation well. For me, it’s difficult to understand how he can play at the World Cup if he didn’t play any games this season. But I texted him after [the Villa game].”
As Kulusevski continues his recovery, his focus remains on regaining full fitness and making a strong comeback with Tottenham in the upcoming season.
About The Author
