Liverpool star Alexander Isak did not appear for Sweden on Tuesday in order to avoid a possible ban.
The 26-year-old watched from the sidelines in Stockholm as his nation finished their dismal World Cup qualifying campaign with a 1-1 draw with Slovenia.
For the third straight game, Liverpool’s £125 million acquisition was not included in the starting lineup. Isak played 28 minutes as Sweden were hammered 4-1 by Switzerland on Saturday after being an unused substitute in the Reds’ devastating 3-0 loss to Manchester City.
With just two points from six games, the Swedes finished last in Group B. Due to their poor performance under Jon Dahl Tomasson, former West Ham manager Graham Potter was hired on a temporary basis last month.
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This is partly due to the fact that Sweden’s outstanding Nations League campaign earned them a berth in the play-offs, giving them a chance to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
According to The Mirror, Isak was one of nine Swedish players who might be suspended when Sweden play one of Italy, Turkey, Denmark, or Ukraine away from home in a one-leg semifinal.
Isak had already received a yellow card during Sweden’s September 2-0 loss to Kosovo, and yellow cards are carried over into the play-off semifinals.
He would have been suspended from the match on March 26 if he had received a second yellow or been sent off.
Post-match, Potter addressed the decision to leave Isak and others on the bench. “Not an ideal situation,” the ex-Swansea, Brighton, and Chelsea manager confessed. “You don’t want players who go on the pitch and can’t be aggressive. You’re not yourself then.”
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