Alexander Isak has dismissed the notion that he isn’t at full fitness, while also talking about how he is enjoying his “playmaker” role for Sweden.
From a Liverpool perspective, they would have preferred several of their World Cup participants to have had the summer off from football.
However, Isak’s presence at the World Cup with Sweden can only be deemed a positive, and his performances are proving promising for what Liverpool can expect next season.
Since the end of his time at Newcastle, fitness issues have plagued his development. The fitness problem was compounded further when he fractured his left leg in December.
Isak was then unable to find any consistency, even after returning towards the end of the season.
Sweden's Alexander Bernhardsson, Sweden's Benjamin Nygren (10) and Sweden's Alexander Isak (9) celebrate with Sweden's Viktor Gyokeres (17) after he scored to put Sweden up, 3-1, during the World Cup Group F soccer match between Sweden and Tunisia in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Sofia Yaker)
Thankfully, he now feels like he is in a better place, saying (h/t the Liverpool Echo): “Now I feel good, very good.
“But it’s hard to put your finger on what your maximum is – you never know – but I have nothing to complain about right now when it comes to my physical status.”
Speaking about the transition from club to his good form for Sweden, Isak explained: “Club team and national team are two very separate things.
“When I joined the national team, I had absolutely no thoughts about anything other than Sweden and the World Cup.
“It’s clear that it’s nice to have a good World Cup and you want to do it even better all the time. I feel like I’m in a good place now and hopefully I can continue to do well.”
Alexander Isak’s slightly deeper role for Sweden
Thanks to Sweden being blessed with two strong strikers, Isak and Arsenal‘s Viktor Gyokeres, the Liverpool No. 9 hasn’t had to play up front on his own.
Instead, he has tended to drop deeper for the ball before driving forward. This was part of the reason he scored once and provided two assists in Sweden’s 5-1 win over Tunisia.
Asked about the slightly changed role he is playing, Isak replied: “It has felt good. It’s worked well in the matches.
“It is clear that you’re a bit more of a playmaker, playing others forward instead of being the one making the deep runs yourself, but I’m enjoying it there.
Kosovo's Leon Avdullahu, left, challenges Sweden's Alexander Isak during the 2026 World Cup Group B qualifying soccer match between Sweden and Kosovo Monday Oct. 13, 2025 in Gothenburg, Sweden. (Bjorn Larsson/TT News Agency via AP)
“We are two talented players who want the best for the team. We get along really well, just like the whole team.”
Sweden’s qualification for the last 32 is still in the balance. Their last Group F match is against a tricky test against Japan on Thursday night.
Graham Potter’s side are currently third in their group with three points, having beaten Tunisia and lost to the Netherlands by the same 5-1 scoreline.
A point against Japan will almost certainly be enough to see them through as one of the eight best third-place finishers.
However, a defeat would mean they end on three points with a negative goal difference, leaving their fate in the hands of others.
World Cup 2026: Group F Standings
Team PTS GD GF
Netherlands 4 +4 7
Japan 4 +4 6
Sweden 3 0 6
Tunisia 0 -8 1
*After two games