One international manager has explained what criteria he picks his squad on after a Newcastle United star was snubbed this month.
It’s that time again when domestic football is put on pause so the international game can get some of its important fixtures played.
With the 2026 World Cup quickly approaching, the October international break is a crucial one as countries aim to secure their spot in North America.
But the timing is frustrating for Newcastle United, who had just started to build momentum with impressive victories over Union SG and Nottingham Forest after a challenging start.
10 Newcastle stars are out representing their nations over the next week, though plenty of players haven’t made the cut, giving Eddie Howe the chance to work with them further.
Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall have missed out due to injury, as has Yoane Wissa, but others just haven’t been picked.
Centre-back pairing Sven Botman and Malick Thiaw have both been snubbed by the Netherlands and Germany, respectively, despite a string of impressive performances together at the back.
Neither omission is a massive surprise, though, as Botman has never played for his country and Thiaw hasn’t been called up since 2023.
However, Emil Krafth’s exclusion from the Sweden national team is a bit more surprising.
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Emil Krafth doesn’t get called up to the Sweden squad
Versatile defender Krafth has 51 caps for Sweden, was in the squad for the September break and came on off the bench in the defeat to Kosovo.
However, the 31-year-old has not received the call from Sweden boss Jon Dahl Tomasson this time around.
Krafth has been dealing with a ‘minor’ injury, but has still been fit enough to be on the bench for Newcastle in recent games.
Tomasson has had to deal with a controversy this week as goalkeeper Robin Olsen has said he won’t play for the country again while he is in charge.
It’s not Tomasson’s first controversy since taking over and when asked about his management style, he explained how he picks his squad, which does contain Anthony Elanga and Alexander Isak.
“You always want to have an opinion. It is a free country”, Tomasson said, via FlashScore.
“One thing I can say about myself as a manager is that I am very open and clear about what I expect from the players.
“Some players get disappointed when they don’t play. But one thing is certain. I always tell them what I expect. If a player can do it, wants it, and works hard for it, then you get the chance to play.”
“I don’t look at names. I look at achievements. Several coaches select players based on their names. I am not one of them. Those who are disappointed or bitter should look in the mirror, and they will probably get a good answer there.”
While Krafth isn’t named directly, he has been given clear instructions on what he must do if he wants to get back in the squad.
Should Emil Krafth leave Newcastle United?
While Krafth’s willingness to play a bit-part and his ability to play across the defence make him very useful to Howe, Newcastle aren’t very useful to Krafth. If he wants to get to the World Cup, that is.
The defender hasn’t played a single minute of Premier League or Champions League action this season, with his one appearance coming in the Carabao Cup. Even then, he didn’t get to play the full 90.
Sweden have just one point after two World Cup qualifiers, but still have a strong chance of making it to the newly-expanded tournament.
If Krafth wants to beat out some stiff competition to get back into Tomasson’s plans, he clearly needs to play more.
To that end, he may well be tempted to leave Newcastle in January so he can get regular first-team minutes, whether permanently or on loan.
With Krafth’s contract set to expire in 2026, he will likely be leaving in the summer anyway.
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