Liverpool forward Alexander Isak revealed he had to jokingly reprimand Sweden teammate Anthony Elanga after the winger was unaware that their 1-1 draw against Japan had already secured a place in the World Cup knockout stages.
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Sweden finished third in Group F after sharing the points with Japan in Dallas, with both nations advancing to the Round of 32.
The result also means several Liverpool players, including Isak, will report back for pre-season later than expected due to their continued involvement in the tournament.
Despite the positive outcome, Elanga admitted after the match that he believed Sweden still needed a winner and was urging his teammates to push forward in the closing minutes.
Liverpool striker explains why he confronted teammate after final whistle
Speaking after the game, Elanga confessed he only discovered after the final whistle that a draw was enough to guarantee qualification.
Isak found the situation amusing, revealing that he gave his teammate a light-hearted telling-off for not knowing the qualification scenario.
Sweden captain Victor Lindelof explained that the squad had discussed every possible qualification outcome before the match, making Elanga’s confusion even more surprising.
Head coach Graham Potter also laughed off the incident, suggesting the winger may have been focused on other things during the briefing, reports Liverpool.
Potter praised Elanga’s overall display, particularly his equaliser, while also highlighting goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom’s impressive performance.
Following a heavy defeat to the Netherlands in their previous outing, Sweden responded with a disciplined display that ensured their place in the knockout rounds, where they could face Germany, Mexico, the United States or Switzerland depending on the final standings.
