Alexander Isak has been labelled a “national disgrace” for his performance in Sweden’s 2-0 defeat to Switzerland on Friday night. The Premier League record signing has been working on his match sharpness since his £125 million deadline-day move from Newcastle to Liverpool, but he did manage to play the full 90 minutes of his national team’s most recent World Cup qualifier.
After six games for his new team, the 26-year-old has only scored once. While his lack of contribution mirrors Liverpool’s recent decline in form, his performances are now being criticised by his national team as well. Despite the fact that Viktor Gyokeres plays for Sweden, Isak is increasingly being blamed for the team’s stalling campaign and the mounting prospect of missing the 2026 World Cup.
Sweden now sits at the bottom of Group B, with only one point from three games, eight behind leaders Switzerland. Kosovo is now in second place with four points and will travel to Sweden for their next qualifier on Monday, October 13th.
Isak faces a brutal assessment following Sweden’s 0-2 loss against Switzerland.
There is a growing suspicion that Isak’s actions this summer – going on strike before eventually securing a £300,000-per-week deal at Anfield after missing nearly an entire pre-season – are now costing Sweden their World Cup prospects. After reaching the quarter-finals in 2018 but failing to qualify in 2022, the national squad now faces the risk of another disappointment.
On Friday night, Isak provided little: one off-target shot, a lost large opportunity, only 12 completed passes from 16 tries, and one duel victory out of seven. Frustrated by such a lifeless performance, one X user commented (see Isak’s highlights below):
“All joking and bias aside, Alexander Isak has truly let his country down tonight.” Sweden faces a major risk of missing out on World Cup qualification if an unfit and out-of-form striker adds a negative contribution to the team due to his behaviour.”
With Isak receiving a 5.8/10 match rating from Flashscore, the joint-lowest of anyone on the pitch, Northern Echo chief sports writer Scott Wilson tweeted: “Wonder how the Swedes feel about Isak’s decision to go on strike and massively reduce his ability to positively influence the last four matches. They came in last place in their group. Despite this, he achieved his desired outcome. As another added:
“This guy has single-handedly ruined his country’s hopes of qualifying for the World Cup with his selfish actions throughout the summer. “Swedes should regard Alexander Isak as a national disgrace.”
It’s not a good look for Isak, who has once again been outperformed by Liverpool rival Hugo Ekitike, who impressed on his long-awaited debut for France on the same night.
Another X user concluded the harsh criticism of the Swede’s poor performance in Stockholm by writing, “A £130 million player should be able to change a game on his own.” Okay, Isak, you did it. “For Switzerland.”
xz
