Alexander Isak’s return to international football didn’t go as planned on Monday, as Sweden suffered a shock 2-0 defeat to Kosovo in World Cup qualifying.
The Newcastle forward, now freshly transferred to Liverpool, was unable to make a meaningful impact in his first competitive match since May.
Limited Time on the Pitch
Isak came on as a 72nd-minute substitute for Anthony Elanga, with Sweden already two goals down.
His only notable moment came when he received a booking following a clash with Kosovo’s Fidan Aliti.
The late introduction meant he had little chance to influence the game as Sweden struggled to mount a comeback in Pristina.
Summer Transfer and Fitness Concerns
The striker, who had been left on the bench for Sweden’s 2-2 draw with Slovenia just a few days earlier, had spent the summer pushing for a move from Newcastle to Liverpool.
After a transfer saga that concluded on deadline day, Isak had not trained or played since May 25.
Sweden manager Jon Dahl Tomasson had previously voiced concerns over his fitness ahead of the Slovenia match.
Isak Clarifies Role With National Team
Following the loss to Kosovo, Isak insisted that Liverpool had not restricted his playing time with the national team.
“Not that I know of. I’m with the national team now. Clubs and national teams have contact but it’s between them in such cases,” he explained.
Tomasson added that he had given Isak the “maximum” minutes possible given his recent inactivity.
World Cup Qualification Hopes Take a Hit
The defeat is an early setback for Sweden as they look to qualify for next year’s World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Sitting third in their four-team group, Sweden are already five points behind leaders Switzerland, who have won their opening two matches.
Only the group winner will earn automatic qualification, leaving Sweden with plenty of work to do.