Sweden and Alexander Isak are out of the FIFA World Cup after a 3-0 defeat against France, the latest Liverpool star to exit the competition in the Round of 32
23:57, 30 Jun 2026Updated 00:09, 01 Jul 2026
Alexander Isak's World Cup is over after Sweden was eliminated by France
Alexander Isak's World Cup is over after Sweden was eliminated by France(Image: ANP via Getty Images)
Another Liverpool player is out of the FIFA World Cup. But it’s hard to put Alexander Isak in the same category as his teammates who were already on the plane home.
Sweden was well beaten at the hands of France at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, as Les Bleus dominated en route to a 3-0 win. And it’s hard to see how Isak could have done much differently at all.
A day of World Cup upsets saw the Netherlands and Germany both suffer shock exits on penalties. Isak’s teammates faced intense criticism, including massive scrutiny for Virgil van Dijk in the Netherlands while Florian Wirtz’ below-par performances were called out.
Isak, however, simply found himself on the wrong side of a complete mismatch. There was to be no upset this time, as the France front-four featuring Liverpool-linked Bradley Barcola put on a show with Kylian Mbappe at the forefront.
Graham Potter’s team lined up almost resigned to their fate from the start. They sat deep, hoped France would struggle to break them down and hoped an athletic front-three could cause some problems on the counter attack.
Within the opening seconds, there looked to be some hope to that. Viktor Gyokeres got in behind and fed Isak on the break for a brief half-chance before his tame shot trickled into the goalkeepers hands.
But that was to be one of the only times Sweden got anywhere near the France goal before eventually falling 1-0 behind to a moment of Mbappe magic shortly before the break.
Isak was among the more lively in the front-three, including latching onto a quick free-kick to work another brief sight at goal that was sniffed out by the France defense.
But in reality, there is nothing he could have done to drag this Sweden side into the Round of 16 against a France team playing such a tune.
Van Dijk and Gravenberch rightfully faced questions about the Netherlands failing to deliver more and see out the game against Morocco after teammate Cody Gakpo’s emotional opener.
Isak and Sweden were well beaten by France and he was powerless to do much more
Isak and Sweden were well beaten by France and he was powerless to do much more(Image: CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images)
Wirtz also cannot escape from his role in the middle of the Germany side that has underperformed so badly at another World Cup, losing to Paraguay on penalties.
But Isak’s Sweden team has pretty much achieved what it probably expected. No more, no less.
Liverpool will probably be slightly relived his run into the tournament isn’t extended any further, after a first season at Anfield ruined by injury before his late season comeback.
He will now have some more time off before returning to preseason and looking to hit the ground running under new manager Andoni Iraola.
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And unlike for Van Dijk, Wirtz and Gravenberch, there will be no need for soul-searching over what went on here in the USA, where Sweden was simply beaten by a far better team with Isak’s influence on the game severely limited.