Alexander Isak has been branded a “national disgrace” after Sweden’s 2–0 defeat to Switzerland on Friday night. The striker — now the Premier League’s most expensive player following his £125 million deadline-day transfer from Newcastle to Liverpool — completed the full ninety minutes but failed to make an impact as Sweden’s World Cup hopes took another blow.
Since joining Liverpool, the 26-year-old has only found the net once in six games. Although his poor form mirrors Liverpool’s recent struggles, frustration is now spilling over to the international stage. Despite Viktor Gyökeres also featuring up front, much of the criticism for Sweden’s faltering qualifying campaign — and the looming risk of missing the 2026 World Cup — is being aimed squarely at Isak.
Sweden sit bottom of Group B with just one point from three matches, eight adrift of leaders Switzerland. Kosovo, currently in second place with four points, occupy the play-off position and will travel to Stockholm on Monday, 13 October.
Fans and journalists unleash criticism after Sweden 0–2 Switzerland
Many supporters and pundits believe Isak’s turbulent summer — which included going on strike to force through his £300,000-per-week move to Liverpool, missing most of pre-season in the process — has left him unfit and out of rhythm, to the detriment of his national team. After reaching the 2018 World Cup quarter-finals but failing to qualify in 2022, Sweden now face another potential setback.
Against Switzerland, Isak struggled badly: one off-target shot, a missed clear chance, 12 completed passes from 16 attempts, and only one duel won out of seven. One frustrated X user summed up the mood:
> “All jokes aside, Alexander Isak has genuinely let his country down tonight. Sweden might miss out on the World Cup because their striker is unfit and out of form — a direct result of his own actions.”
Isak received a 5.8/10 rating from Flashscore — the joint-lowest of any player on the pitch. Scott Wilson, chief sports writer at The Northern Echo, wrote:
> “Wonder how the Swedes feel about Isak’s decision to go on strike and reduce his ability to help the team in recent games. Bottom of their group. Still, he got what he wanted…”
Another commenter added:
> “This guy has single-handedly wrecked his country’s World Cup chances through his selfish behaviour over the summer. Swedes should consider Alexander Isak a national disgrace.”
To make matters worse, Isak’s underwhelming performance came on the same night that Liverpool teammate Hugo Ekitike impressed on his first start for France. One final brutal post captured the sentiment:
> “A £130 million player should be capable of changing a game on his own. Fair enough, Isak — you did. For Switzerland.”
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