Sweden secured a place in the next round of the World Cup, but their qualification came at a heavy cost. One of Graham Potter’s most important players has been ruled out for the rest of the tournament.

Hien’s World Cup is over

Isak Hien will not play again at this year’s World Cup. The Swedish centre-back suffered an injury during the final group-stage match against Japan, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

The result was enough for Sweden to finish third in the group F with four points and qualify for the round of 32. However, the positive sporting outcome was quickly overshadowed by concerns over Hien’s condition.

The Atalanta defender had to leave the pitch in the 37th minute. According to Gianluca Di Marzio, further checks have confirmed that the 27-year-old’s tournament is already over.

Potter loses a defensive leader

Hien is expected to return to Bergamo next week, where he will undergo additional medical tests. For Sweden, his absence is a serious problem before the knockout stage.

Graham Potter described the injury as a painful setback for both the player and the squad. The Sweden coach stressed that Hien is not only a key figure on the pitch, but also an important presence inside the team.

The timing could hardly be worse. Sweden have reached the next phase, but they will now have to continue without the leader of their defence. For Hien, it is an especially cruel ending to a tournament that should have been one of the most important stages of his international career.