Anthony Elanga with top quality goal but Alexander Isak costs Sweden dear | OneFootball

Anthony Elanga and Alexander Isak reunited in the Sweden squad but not on the pitch.

Sweden with their opening World Cup group qualifier, the first of six, in a very tough group where only one nation is guaranteed to qualify (Switzerland beat Kosovo 4-0 on Friday night in the other group match).

Emil Krafth on the bench alongside Alexander Isak as Sweden drew their first of six World Cup group qualifying matches.

Anthony Elanga with a very good performance and scored a top quality goal (watch below) when running from the halfway line, playing a one-two and applying a class finish, to give Sweden the lead on 18 minutes.

Having departed as part of a double substitution on 64 minutes at 1-1, Anthony Elanga watching on from the bench as Sweden once again took the lead.

Only for heartbreak as a last gasp bit of poor Sweden defending allowed Slovenia a 90th minute equaliser.

As you can see from their World Cup group table, a must win game away to Kosovo on Monday for Sweden.

Anthony Elanga getting second highest rating in the automated Whoscored ratings:

The first visible signs of Alexander Isak’s summer actions rebounding on him.

Jon Dahl Tomasson clearly thinking Isak nowhere near fit enough even to come on as a sub last night, due to no football the last four months and refusing to train with Newcastle United.

With a fully fit Isak on the pitch, Sweden would very likely have won this game. If they miss out on World Cup qualification then they can point the finger at the Liverpool player.

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

Thursday 4 September

Slovakia 2 Germany 0

Nick Woltemade making his third appearance for Germany but starved of service. Germany missing many of their best players, especially creatively. Germany deservedly beaten in their opening World Cup group qualifier. Rudiger and Tah especially poor in defence.

Friday 5 September

Brazil 3 Chile 0

Bruno Guimaraes putting in a top class performance in this dominant World Cup group qualifier victory. Topping it off by scoring the third and final goal, Bruno rated man of the match. Joelinton not named in the matchday squad and it appears he has stayed in Newcastle to make sure he comes back from injury against Wolves in eight days time.

Slovenia 2 Sweden 2

Emil Krafth remained on the bench as Sweden drew their first of six World Cup group qualifying matches. Anthony Elanga with a very good performance and scored a top quality goal when running from the halfway line, playing a one-two and applying a class finish, to give Sweden the lead on 18 minutes. Having departed as part of a double substitution on 64 minutes at 1-1, Anthony Elanga watching on from the bench as Sweden once again took the lead, only for heartbreak as a last gasp bit of poor defending allowed Slovenia a 90th minute equaliser.

Saturday 6 September

England v Andorra (Anthony Gordon, Dan Burn, Tino Livramento) World Cup group qualifier

Sunday 7 September

Germany v Northern Ireland (Nick Woltemade) World Cup group qualifier

Monday 8 September

Israel v Italy (Sandro Tonali) World Cup group qualifier (Neutral venue – Hungary)

Greece v Denmark (Will Osula) World Cup group qualifier

Kosovo v Sweden (Emil Krafth, Anthony Elanga) World Cup group qualifier

Kazakhstan U21s v England U21s (Lewis Miley) U21s European Championship group qualifier

Tuesday 9 September

Serbia v England (Anthony Gordon, Dan Burn, Tino Livramento) World Cup group qualifier