Image Credits: Imago Images
Sweden and manager Graham Potter have reportedly taken a firm stance on Alexander Isak’s fitness just weeks before their World Cup play-off campaign kicks off, with the Liverpool striker still recovering from his leg fracture injury at a crucial moment for the national team’s hopes. Having failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup through the regular group phase, Sweden now face the high-pressure route of the play-offs this March.
Potter had previously left the door open for Isak, suggesting there was still a chance the striker could make it if his recovery progressed in time. He previously stated last month:
“Right now we’re just keeping our fingers crossed and hopefully we can get some of those guys back. But if not, we have to find a solution with the guys who are available,” the former Brighton boss said.
“I hope they (Isak and Dejan Kulusevski) can play, but these are big injuries…It’s tough to come back from injuries like that by March, but there’s a chance.”
“Yes, I have spoken to both of them. They are on their way back and are optimistic. They are working very hard at home in the club team in an attempt to play with us in March.”
However, according to Swedish outlet VM Fotboll, the answer now appears to be no, with the expectation that Isak will not be included in the squad for the World Cup play-offs.
The report states that when Potter releases his play-off squad on Wednesday 18 March at 12:00, Isak is among a group of key players tipped to miss out due to injury, alongside names such as Dejan Kulusevski, Lucas Bergvall and goalkeeper Viktor Johansson.
Sweden’s path is brutally simple: beat what is in front of them in March or miss out on the World Cup again.
They face Ukraine in a play-off semi-final in Valencia on 26 March at 20:45, a neutral-venue clash that will shape the mood around the entire Potter project. If Sweden win, they will host a play-off final at Strawberry Arena in Solna on 31 March against the winner of Albania vs Poland; if they lose, that same date will instead bring only a friendly against the loser of that other semi-final.
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