Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres have come in for scrutiny after Sweden slumped to an embarrassing World Cup qualifying defeat. In a night that will haunt them for years, the once-proud Scandinavian giants crashed to a shocking 1-0 defeat to Kosovo in Gothenburg, leaving their qualifying hopes in tatters. It’s a defeat that leaves them bottom of their qualifying group with a single miserable point from four games. Two goals scored. Seven conceded. And a nation furious.
Kosovo complete the double as Sweden hit rock bottom
Despite boasting a frontline worth nearly £200 million, led by Premier League stars Isak and Gyokeres, Sweden looked toothless, disjointed, and utterly clueless in front of their own fans. To make matters even worse, this wasn’t a one-off fluke. Kosovo, ranked 101st in the world, have now completed the double over Sweden in qualifying. A solitary first-half strike from Fisnik Asllani was enough to pile fresh misery on Jon Dahl Tomasson’s crumbling side. Kosovo’s players celebrated like heroes; Sweden’s trudged off the pitch to a chorus of boos and disbelief. For a side that once boasted legends like Zlatan Ibrahimović and Henrik Larsson, this was a dark, humiliating chapter in their footballing history.
AdvertisementAFP£200m strikers can’t buy a goal
All eyes were on Isak and Gyokeres to deliver, but once again, Sweden’s high-priced forwards fired blanks. Isak, now a Liverpool star and one of Europe’s most lethal finishers on club duty, spurned several golden chances, including a point-blank header in stoppage time that was brilliantly saved by Kosovo goalkeeper Arijanet Muric. Whereas Gyokeres, fresh off a stellar season in Portugal, barely made an impact. The pair have scored just two goals between them in the entire qualifying campaign, an astonishingly poor return for two strikers valued among Europe’s elite. The frustration was clear on Isak’s face at the final whistle; another night, another disaster in yellow and blue.
Head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson is under mounting pressure, with local outlet SportBladet reporting that several senior players have lost faith in the former Blackburn Rovers boss. Facing the media after the defeat, a visibly shaken Tomasson refused to resign but admitted things were dire.
"I have a contract with the Swedish federation, and we are in the middle of qualifying," he responded to resignation talks. "Of course, it's not good enough and it's a terrible result. It really hurts, we forgot how to score goals and I don't know why."
Lockdown madness: Secret line-up backfires
As if the defeat wasn’t embarrassing enough, Tomasson’s bizarre “spy-proof” tactic ahead of the game has sparked ridicule among players. In a bid to stop leaks to the press, the 49-year-old chose to reveal his starting XI just one hour before kick-off, a move that reportedly left the squad confused and unsettled. Tottenham’s Lucas Bergvall, one of the few bright lights in Sweden’s squad this season, admitted it was a strange approach.
"It may have happened at some point in my career," he said. "It doesn't have a big impact on me, but I can't speak to everyone else."
At the heart of the disaster is Tomasson’s controversial system, one that’s left players confused and critics furious. Designed to create compact defensive lines and quick transitions, it has instead produced slow, toothless football that’s drained Sweden of their attacking spark. According to reports from Newcastle United winger Anthony Elanga, left out of both qualifiers this week, could be heard shouting in anger in the players’ tunnel after the match. “The damn system must go!” he reportedly yelled, as teammates and staff looked on in stunned silence.
Later, when speaking to reporters, Elanga didn’t deny his outburst. "We have worked on a system, on how we are going to play," he said. "Then it may look a little different when you are on the field. It is also us who are on the field who have to take responsibility."
Getty Images SportWorld Cup dream in ruins?
With only two qualifiers left, against Switzerland and Slovenia next month, Sweden’s hopes of sneaking into the play-offs are slim at best. They’ll need a perfect finish and help from other results just to have a chance. But based on their current form, few believe it’s possible.
