On Friday, Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres started for Sweden, with Anthony Elanga on the bench.
The two Premier League strikers were sad, as were most of their teammates. They didn’t even manage a shot on target all match, while Switzerland had eight shots on target and two of them went past the keeper.
That home World Cup qualifier was bad for Swedish captain Alexander Isak and Sweden, but on Monday night it was on a different level.
Back home, this time at 91st in the Kosovo world rankings, Jon Dahl Tomasson started again with Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres up front, while Anthony Elanga was once again on the bench.
In the first half, Sweden were in a poor second place with the two Premier League strikers offering minimal threat, while at the other end Kosovo took the lead and then also hit the post.
Unlike Switzerland, when Anthony Elanga was left on the bench, this time the Newcastle United winger was one of three changes made at half-time as Tomasson desperately tried in vain to save Sweden’s World Cup qualification chances (and his job…?).
The Swedish threat immediately increased and Elanga passed to Gyokeres, who should have scored, but his header was too close to the keeper.
Then another great Elanga delivery, but Alexander Isak missed the target.
The Newcastle United star continues to hit dangerous balls into the penalty area, but the Premier League’s attacking prowess cannot match the service.
Isak squandered another glorious late chance when Anthony Elanga crossed but saved the Liverpool striker’s header when he shouldn’t have given the keeper a chance.
A home defeat against lowly Kosovo and this is what their World Cup qualifying group looks like with two rounds left to play.
This is the October 2025 international fixture list for Newcastle United players:
Thursday October 9
England 3 Wales 0
Anthony Gordon with an excellent first half, as did most of his teammates. England took a 3-0 lead after just twenty minutes and as the match progressed they cruised to victory making numerous substitutions. Gordon is the only one of the front six to play the full game, while Dan Burn is an unused sub.
Friday October 10
South Korea 0 Brazil 5
A world-class assist from Bruno Guimaraes saw Estevao score the opener in this friendly. Joelinton remained on the bench for the entire match and Bruno dropped out after 79 minutes.
Sinnyy 4 LUXEMBOURG 0
An excellent team performance with Nick Woltemade in the lead for Germany.
The Newcastle United striker didn’t score himself but led the line so well, with his link-up play and all-round play helping to secure an impressive victory in this World Cup group qualifier.
Sweden 0 Switzerland 2
Anthony Elanga from Newcastle watches from the bench as the must-win group qualifier for the World Cup ended in defeat.
Sweden now has virtually no chance of appearing in the 2026 final.
With three group matches left to play, Sweden is eight points behind Switzerland.
Saturday October 11
Estonia 1 Italy 3
Sandro Tonali officiated this World Cup qualifying match and was named man of the match by the Italian media and Football Italia, which perfectly sums up his brilliant performance…
‘Italy had some strong players tonight, but the Newcastle United man was in a class of his own today. Harking back to the iconic Italian centre-mids of yesteryear, the 25-year-old showed his class tonight.’
Monday October 13
Northern Ireland 0 Germany 1
What a moment for Nick Woltemade to score his first goal for Germany in this World Cup group qualifier. The only goal of the match when the Newcastle United striker reaches the highest point in the 31st minute and heads in (‘slight’ suspicion that it came from his shoulder…). A tough night in Belfast, a real battle, but Germany are now so strong at the top of the group with only two games left to play. Only the group winners automatically qualify for the 2026 final. Nick Woltemade worked a 92-minute shift and only dropped out in the final seconds.
Sweden 0 Kosovo 1
An embarrassing home defeat for Sweden and left bottom of the table with one point after four games and only two games left to play. Anthony Elanga was on the bench for this World Cup qualifier and watched as Sweden trailed 1-0 at half-time, although it could have been 2-0 if Kosovo also hit the post. Elanga was one of three substitutions on the break and he brought Sweden to life late on, with a series of quality crosses, but Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak squandered chance after chance.
Tuesday October 14th
Italy vs Israel (Sandro Tonali) World Cup qualifier
Latvia v England (Anthony Gordon, Dan Burn) World Cup qualifier
Japan vs Brazil (Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton) Friendly
#Alexander #Isak #Viktor #Gyokeres #disappointed #Sweden #Anthony #Elanga..