With two games still left to play, Sweden’s World Cup qualification hopes are already effectively at an end following another damaging defeat to Kosovo.
With one draw and two defeats in their first three games of World Cup qualification, Sweden knew they couldn’t afford another bad result at home to Kosovo on Monday.
Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres and Liverpool’s Alexander Isak started the match together, hoping to end a run of two games without a goal for the team.
But that’s not how it panned out, with Fisnik Asllani scoring the only goal of a 1-0 win for the away side.
Sweden did have chances, and the big ones fell to Isak. The Liverpool striker saw one header saved and put another over the bar when well placed, before firing wide with a cut-back opportunity in the 75th minute.
For Gyokeres, the concern won’t be his finishing, but the fact the chances just don’t seem to be coming to him. After scoring so many goals for club and country last season, he’s not getting the opportunities right now.
It’s easy to blame teammates for that, but Isak had plenty of chances on Monday night. If that remains the case, eventually the Liverpool man will start scoring again.
As for Sweden, the World Cup dream is all but over. A nine-point gap to Switzerland means top spot is already an impossibility, and Sweden have a six-point gap to make up in two matches to reach the runner-up play-off spot.
If Kosovo pick up even a single point in their final two games, or if Sweden fail to win either one of their matches, elimination will be confirmed.
Sweden’s next match is away to group leaders Switzerland, who will be keen to win to confirm their own qualification. It’s a monumental task for Sweden to qualify now, and a large part of it is out of their hands.