Alexander Isak was left on the bench in Sweden’s 2-2 World Cup qualifying draw against Slovenia, and head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson has explained the reasoning behind the decision. According to Tomasson, the new Liverpool striker was not fully fit after a quiet summer with limited match action.
The manager stressed that he did not want to “do anything stupid” by risking Isak’s health. The 25-year-old has not played a competitive fixture since May, having trained separately while pushing through his record-breaking transfer from Newcastle to Liverpool. Reports suggest he had only three full training sessions with the national squad before the Slovenia match.
Although Isak remains one of Sweden’s most important players, Tomasson decided it was safer to keep him as an unused substitute. Looking ahead, the coach hinted that the forward could be introduced as a “game-changer” in Sweden’s upcoming qualifier against Kosovo, provided his fitness continues to improve ahead of his much-anticipated Premier League debut for Liverpool.
Isak’s recent form highlights his potential impact. Last season, he scored 26 goals and provided 6 assists in 42 appearances across all competitions for Newcastle, underlining why Sweden and Liverpool are eager to see him back in top condition.
