Swedish Media Make Feelings Clear on Isak And Gyokeres After Dismal Kosovo Performance

Swedish media have made their feelings clear on Liverpool's Alexander Isak and Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres after their 1-0 home defeat to Kosovo in World Cup qualifying.

Forward Fisnik Asllani scored the only goal of the game on Monday to give the visitors victory.

Sweden have now lost three of their four qualifiers under manager Jon Dahl Tomasson, and sit bottom of their group with just a single point.

Qualification for the World Cup is now out of their hands, as they need to win both of their final matches and hope that Kosovo do not score a point to reach the play-offs.

Former AC Milan and Feyenoord striker Tomasson, who was sacked by Championship side Blackburn Rovers last February before becoming Sweden boss in the following month, has unsurprisingly faced significant criticism from the Swedish press.

But Isak and Gyokeres, two of the most expensive strikers in world football history, have also been questioned after both failing to score in any of Sweden's four qualifiers.

Fotbollskanalen described Gyokeres as 'a shadow of the striker' that won the golden boot award in the Nations League.

They wrote that Isak 'was sharper but he is not in the same shape as last season'.

Expressen offered some mitigation for their performances, writing: "The players look completely broken. The experience must be traumatising for them too.

"Of course, there is also justified criticism of their efforts, but at the same time it is incomprehensible how one can imagine that we are seeing a collective collapse of attitudes."

There was also an unexpected mention of Alan Pardew, with the writer noting he hadn't been as sure of a manager needing to be replaced 'since Alan Pardew managed Newcastle'.

Fotbollskanalen were even more critical of both players after the 2-0 defeat to Switzerland three days earlier, with Gyokeres given a rating of 1 out of 5.

"Sweden needed Viktor at his best for this crucial World Cup qualifying match," they stated. "But he didn't have it in decisive moments."

Expressen, meanwhile, claimed that Isak, who was captain for that fixture, was 'quick in body and mind but tired too early' during that defeat.

He was also given a 1 out of 5 by Svenska Fans, who wrote: "Ran on many balls. Had a shot in the post that was worth a better fate ... However, did not succeed very often with his actions."