Image Credits: Imago Images
Alexander Isak scored once and provided two assists as he delivered a player-of-the-match display in Sweden’s 5-1 win over Tunisia at the World Cup in the early hours of Monday morning.
Despite scoring just four goals for Liverpool last season, the striker has now found the net twice in his last three appearances for Sweden, opening his tournament account in style.
Yasin Ayari opened the scoring before Isak doubled Sweden’s lead with a composed finish after driving at the defence and cutting onto his right foot from the edge of the box.
Tunisia pulled one back through Omar Rekik before half-time, but Sweden regained control when Isak set up Viktor Gyokeres, winning possession high up the pitch and teeing up his strike partner for the third goal.
He later added a second assist, flicking on a free-kick delivery for Mattias Svanberg shortly after coming off the bench, before Ayari completed his brace and Sweden’s emphatic win.
Sweden’s next World Cup match comes on Saturday against the Netherlands, where Isak could face Liverpool teammates Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch.
There has been a scare for Sweden ahead of their clash with the Netherlands, with Alexander Isak reportedly training individually on Wednesday.
According to Sweden Herald, the 26-year-old worked away from the main group just three days before the Group F encounter, raising concerns over his availability for the match.
“One player is training individually, and that’s Alexander Isak. He is following an individual program as part of extra recovery after the match,” says the national team’s press officer, Petra Thorén, as quoted by Sweden Herald. “He will be out on the field some of the time and the rest in the gym.”
Alexander Isak was substituted in the 90th minute, marking the first time he has reached the end of a match since October, when he featured for Sweden against Kosovo.
The striker, who scored in a warm-up defeat to Norway, has continued to show flashes of sharp form at the tournament. However, his club campaign featured limited involvement, with just 13 starts in 22 appearances last season.