The medical team's assessment was clear: Holm could not be fit for the tournament, and he would leave the national team camp to focus on his recovery. His absence is a blow to coach Graham Potter, who was left without a player he had been counting on for the summer tournament.
"Of course it is sad for us and for Emil, who is forced to leave us at this stage. We sympathize with him and wish him a speedy recovery," said Potter.
Holm will be replaced in the World Championship squad by Herman Johansson, who is already in Stockholm and has joined the team.
Sweden is currently preparing for its final tests before the World Cup. They will first play Norway away on June 1st, and then host Greece in Solna on June 4th.
For those matches, Potter has additionally called up Sebastian Nanassi from Strasbourg. He has played nine matches for the senior Swedish national team so far, and at the moment he will be a reserve for the team traveling to the World Cup.
It is already known that Viktor Dzekeres will not be available for the matches against Norway and Greece. The Arsenal striker plays in the Champions League final on Saturday night, so he will join the national team later.
Sweden thus enters the final phase of preparations with a change in defense and without one of its most important forwards in the opening friendly matches, but with a clear plan to complete its World Cup group by the start of the tournament.
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