Sweden's captain and coach laud Mexico's Jiménez and Álvarez

Sweden's captain Victor Lindelöf and coach Graham Potter offered high praise for Mexican national team stars Raúl Jiménez and Edson Álvarez ahead of Sweden's 2026 World Cup debut.

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He is a great, great person… I saw his first game and I think his performance was fantastic. I am very happy for him. He is a forward of the best quality.

Lindelöf, who previously played alongside Jiménez at Benfica, spoke glowingly of the Mexican striker's performance in his team's opening match. "He is a great, great person... I saw his first game and I think his performance was fantastic. I am very happy for him. He is a forward of the best quality," Lindelöf stated, recalling their time together.

Meanwhile, coach Graham Potter addressed any lingering speculation about his relationship with Edson Álvarez during their shared time at West Ham. Potter dismissed any notion of issues, instead highlighting Álvarez's competitive spirit and his significant role within the Mexican squad. "I never had any problems with him. He is a fantastic individual and extremely competitive," Potter said of the midfielder.

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I never had any problems with him. He is a fantastic individual and extremely competitive.

Potter further emphasized Álvarez's importance to his former team, expressing deep respect for the player. "I worked a lot with him, he was one of our main players... my greatest respect for him because he is a great player. He decided that it would be best to opt for another environment, and he realized the importance he had for Mexico and what the consequences of his decision would be, but my greatest respect for him because he is a great player," the English coach added.

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I worked a lot with him, he was one of our main players… my greatest respect for him because he is a great player. He decided that it would be best to opt for another environment, and he realized the importance he had for Mexico and what the consequences of his decision would be, but my greatest respect for him because he is a great player.

Lindelöf also touched upon the responsibility of captaincy in a major tournament, sharing his experiences with teammates to offer support.

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Being captain is always very special. Right now I feel incredible and it is a privilege to be in a World Cup. I communicate with my teammates, sharing my experiences to support them in the best possible way.