Ex Newcastle United striker on Alexander Isak – I think it’s about how we handle him as a team | OneFootball

Michael O’Neill has been talking about the challenge of facing Alexander Isak.

The former Newcastle United forward now manager of Northern Ireland and set to take on Sweden on Tuesday night in a friendly.

Alexander Isak and his teammates lost 1-0 in an away friendly to Luxembourg on Saturday when the Newcastle star played the first hour.

Newcastle United fans will be thinking the less time Isak spends on the pitch tonight the better, as all black and white eyes are focussed on those last 10 Premier League games of the season.

However, the Sweden fans inside the Strawberry Arena in Stockholm tonight will be expecting their star striker to be involved.

Michael O’Neill looking forward to the challenge of trying to stop Alexander Isak.

For Newcastle United fans, only two players with matches remaining in this international fortnight.

As well as Alexander Isak, Joelinton and Brazil have another match, later tonight (early hours of Wednesday in UK time) taking on Argentina in Buenos Aires. That World Cup group qualifier sees Bruno miss out due to suspension.

Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill says he hopes his side ensure Sweden striker Alexander Isak “has a quiet night” in Tuesday’s friendly.

Isak has scored 23 goals in 33 games for Newcastle this season, including in the Carabao Cup final win against Liverpool.

The 25-year-old also has 15 goals in 51 internationals and is set to start at the Strawberry Arena in Stockholm.

“He’s a player we know well because he’s much talked about in the UK,” O’Neill said on Isak.

“He’s a fantastic player, but I think it’s about how we handle him as a team.”

O’Neill added that Isak’s role is “slightly different” compared with his position at Newcastle, and that his “intelligent” all-round play is as dangerous as his goalscoring threat.

O’Neill also pointed out that Sunderland defenders Daniel Ballard and Trai Hume, who will miss the game through injury, had the experience of facing Isak in the FA Cup.

“He’s a player that everyone is talking about,” O’Neill added.

“It’s like anything, it’s how we are as a team without the ball – that’s the most important thing.

“Hopefully we can give him a quiet night.”

This is the March 2025 international schedule for Newcastle United players:

Thursday 20 March

Italy 1 Germany 2

Sandro Tonali man of the match for Italy in this Nations League play-off first leg.

Scored a very well taken ninth minute goal and ran the show for Italy, creating great chances for teammates that were wasted. Germany fighting back though to win it with two second-half goals.

Greece 0 Scotland 1

Odysseas Vlachodimos dropped to the bench, presumably due to getting no football with Newcastle United. Scotland scoring with one of only two shots on target to get a surprise win in the first leg of this Nations League play-off, McTominay from the penalty spot.

Slovakia 0 Slovenia 0

A great display from Martin Dubravka with some fine saves, to help keep Slovakia on level terms in the first leg of this Nations League play-off.

Brazil 2 Colombia 1

Bruno Guimaraes started and Joelinton replaced an injured Gerson on 28 minutes. A massive win in this World Cup group qualifier, Brazil now second in the South American qualifying group and now looking all but certain to be in those 2026 finals. A sixth minute penalty from Raphinha was equalised by Diaz just before half-time, Vinicius Junior with a dramatic late deflected winning in the ninth minute of added time.

Friday 21 March

England 2 Albania 0

A cool finish on his debut by Lewis-Skelly in the 20th minute gave England the lead, then Harry Kane confirmed the win with his latest international goal on 77 minutes. Dan Burn can be happy with his contribution overall and it could have been so much better if his header from a first half corner had hit the back of the net instead of the crossbar. Injury concerns though for Anthony Gordon who came on in the 74th minute for Rashford but left the pitch at the end with a potential hip injury. Tino Livramento an unused sub in this World Cup group qualifier.

Saturday 22 March

Luxembourg 1 Sweden 0

A friendly that Alexander Isak and Sweden were second best in, as Korac gave the home side a 23rd minute lead. The Newcastle United striker seeing a number of efforts blocked and/or saved, before subbed off on 61 minutes. Defeat in Luxembourg coming six days after that stunning victory at Wembley. Funny old game.

Sunday 23 March

Germany 3 Italy 3

Sandro Tonali maybe feeling the effects of a third huge game in the space of a week, as his energy levels not quite there maybe. He didn’t have a bad game but he and his teammates found themselves three down at half-time, with some appalling defending going on behind Sandro Tonali at the back. An astonishing turn around saw Italy dominate after the break and pull three goals back, however, this Nations League play-off ending 5-4 on aggregate to Germany. Tonali having been subbed off in the 68th minute when Italy were 3-1 down.

Scotland 0 Greece 3

Odysseas Vlachodimos watching from the bench once again, as Greece fully deserved their victory. Scotland losing this Nations League play-off 3-1 on aggregate.

Slovenia 1 Slovakia 0 (AET)

Martin Dubravka followed up Thursday’s clean sheet with another one in normal time against Slovenia. The Newcastle keeper with some fine saves, however, eventually conceding in extra time as Slovenia won this Nations League play-off 1-0 on aggregate.

Monday 24 March

England 3 Latvia 0

The usual dour unwatchable group qualifier for England against very weak negative opposition.

With Anthony Gordon having left the England squad through injury and Tino Livramento one of those left out of Monday night’s matchday squad, with only 23 able to be named, it was left to Dan Burn to represent Newcastle United.

As Thomas Tuchel had a look at a few different players, Burn was one of those who stepped down to the bench after starting in Friday’s win over Albania.

Burn watched the entire match from the sidelines as England eventually overcame this very limited opposition who are ranked 140th in the world. James scoring a free-kick late in the first half, then Kane and Eze with strikes after the break.

Argentina v Brazil (Bruno Guimaraes is suspended for this match after picking up that latest yellow card against Colombia, Joelinton available though) World Cup group qualifier