Alexander Isak watched from the bench as Sweden drew 1-1 at home to Slovenia in their final World Cup qualifier, with the Liverpool striker yet to start a game since October 22.
Liverpool star Alexander Isak came on as an unused substitute for Sweden on Tuesday to avoid a possible suspension. Isak, 26, watched from the bench in Stockholm as his country snatched a late 1-1 draw with Slovenia to end a dismal World Cup qualifying campaign.
It was the third consecutive game in which Liverpool’s £125m signing was not included in the starting XI. Isak also came on as a substitute in the Reds’ 3-0 defeat at Manchester City and played 28 minutes in Sweden’s 4-1 defeat at Switzerland on Saturday.
The Swedes finished bottom of Group B with only two points from six games. Former West Ham manager Graham Potter was appointed as short-term manager last month as the team continued to struggle under manager John Dahl Thomasson.
That’s because Sweden still have a chance to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, having qualified for the play-offs with their impressive performance in the Nations League. Sweden will face Italy, Turkey, Denmark or Ukraine away in the one-legged semi-final, and Isak was one of nine Swedish players at risk of suspension.
The yellow card will carry over to the play-off semi-finals, but Isak had already been booked for Sweden’s 2-0 defeat against Kosovo in September. A second yellow or sending off would have meant he would have been suspended for the March 26 game.
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“We have received supplementary letters from FIFA and UEFA on these matters and we would like to double-check what they say,” Sweden president Stefan Patterson told Sportbladet.
“By the next game we’ll know with 100 per cent certainty what applies. We’re not panicking about it right now. It could certainly (influence team selection). But it’s Graham who makes the final decision on team selection, but obviously it could have an impact.”
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After the game, Potter spoke about the decision to leave Isaac and others on the bench. “It’s not an ideal situation,” confessed the former Swansea, Brighton and Chelsea manager. “You don’t want a player who can’t be aggressive when he goes on the field. Then you’re not yourself.”
The 26-year-old is hoping to start in Liverpool’s first Premier League game in a month when they host Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday. Isak’s next chance will come when Arne Slott’s side resume their Champions League campaign at home to PSV Eindhoven.
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