Bundesliga trio included in Sweden's World Cup squad, Hugo Larsson misses out

Smith has yet to play for the Blue and Yellow as he left the squad during the last playoff rounds due to an injury. The 29-year-old central defender is expected to leave St. Pauli before his contract runs out at the end of next season.

Svanberg, who played his 100th Bundesliga game against FC Bayern last Saturday, was a late substitute in playoff wins over Ukraine and Poland. The midfielder has only started seven times in the league for the relegation-threatened side this term.

Bernhardsson started five of the six qualifying matches for Sweden before missing the playoffs due to injury. Kiel’s winger has scored twice and assisted nine times in 2. Bundesliga this season.

Meanwhile, Hugo Larsson missed out of the squad despite a strong second half of the season with Eintracht Frankfurt. Swedish outlet Fotbollskanalen reported the young midfielder was “absolutely devastated’ when he was informed of the decision.

Borussia Mönchengladbach’s January signing Hugo Bolin and former Schalke attacker Jordan Larsson, who is the son of Swedish football legend Henrik, are also omitted from the squad. Former Borussia Dortmund striker Alexander Isak struggled with injuries in his debut Liverpool season, but he has been named in the squad as expected.

Sweden’s 26-man World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Kristoffer Nordfeldt (AIK), Viktor Johansson (Stoke City), Jacob Widell Zetterström (Derby County)

Defenders: Victor Lindelöf (Aston Villa), Isak Hien (Atalanta), Gabriel Gudmundsson (Leeds United), Carl Starfelt (Celta Vigo), Emil Holm (Juventus), Hjalmar Ekdal (Burnley), Daniel Svensson (Borussia Dortmund), Gustaf Lagerbielke (Braga), Eric Smith (FC St. Pauli), Elliot Stroud (Mjällby AIF)

Midfielders: Mattias Svanberg (VfL Wolfsburg), Jesper Karlström (Udinese), Yasin Ayari (Brighton & Hove Albion), Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham Hotspur), Besfort Zeneli (Union Saint-Gilloise)

Forwards: Alexander Isak (Liverpool), Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal), Ken Sema (Pafos), Anthony Elanga ( Newcastle United), Benjamin Nygren (Celtic), Alexander Bernhardsson (Holstein Kiel), Gustaf Nilsson (Club Brugge), Taha Ali (Malmö FF)