Swedish football on the brink of collapse

Viktor Gyökeres has yet to show his worth in the Swedish national team.

And when Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres have yet to regain their killer instinct, the "Golden Warriors" are at risk of turning their World Cup dream in the US, Canada and Mexico into an unfinished one.

In the early morning of October 14 in Stockholm, when Sweden welcomes Kosovo, it is not just a six-point game - it is a life-or-death game. Coach Jon Dahl Tomasson's team is at the bottom of the table with only 1 point after 3 matches, 8 points behind the leader Switzerland. Kosovo (4 points) and Slovenia (2 points) are also far behind. If they do not win, Sweden will close the door to the World Cup - the fourth in the last six times.

When two hundred million strikers lost their fire

The 21st century has been too cruel to Swedish football. Since the time of Henrik Larsson and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, this Nordic football has only participated in the World Cup once (2018), and now they are on the brink of collapse.

Alexander Isak, valued at 145 million euros at Liverpool, and Viktor Gyökeres, 75 million euros at Arsenal, are symbols of Sweden’s new golden generation. Both are Premier League mainstays, possessing top speed, technique and finishing ability. But in their national team colours, they are like caged lions.

After three games, Sweden had yet to score a goal. That zero was not only haunting, but also a symbol of stalemate. Isak rarely got the ball in the box, Gyökeres was isolated in a sea of defenders, and the midfield lacked someone who could unlock the defense – a role once filled by Emil Forsberg.

Tomasson's entire system - from pressing to build-up play - seems to be built to cater to fast-paced attacking players, but the lack of a regulating piece leaves that powerful attack lifeless.

Sweden need Isak to shine soon.

There is no denying that Sweden has a rare generation of talented players: Svensson (Dortmund), Elanga (Newcastle), Bardghji (Barcelona), Bergvall (Tottenham). However, they are still too young to shoulder the pressure of the World Cup. When Isak and Gyökeres do not shine, these young players also lose the mental support to explode.

The harsh truth: the squad has potential, but lacks soul. Zlatan used to be the inspiration, the one who made his teammates believe the impossible was possible. Now, Sweden play like a team that has lost faith in itself.

Two consecutive defeats – 0-2 to Kosovo and 0-2 to Switzerland – were deep cuts to Nordic pride. The opponents were disciplined, while Sweden were lackluster at both ends. No goals, no breakthroughs, no resistance.

Tomasson still sticks to the philosophy of “control and proactive pressing”, but when the links are disconnected, the formation becomes as fragile as a torn net. Just one loss of possession can allow the opponent to penetrate straight through the middle.

The fateful night in Stockholm

Kosovo are not an easy opponent. They beat Sweden in the first leg and have players like Muriqi, Rashica, Bytyqi - who are physically strong and fast. If they do not win, Sweden will almost certainly be eliminated, especially when Switzerland are winning all the matches with a goal difference of +9.

It was time for Isak to speak.

Tonight, Tomasson must make a change: either start Isak and Gyökeres together to create pressure, or switch to a 3-4-1-2 formation to increase the number of attacking players in the middle. A win will not only save his World Cup campaign, but also his job.

Does Sweden have the courage to save itself? Can Isak and Gyökeres transform into the new Zlatan, reviving the faith of the whole nation?

The Swedish team needs a “yes” to all of these questions. Otherwise, they will just be two strikers worth hundreds of millions of euros… watching the World Cup through the screen. And Sweden’s history will be filled with regret.

Source: https://znews.vn/bong-da-thuy-dien-truoc-vuc-tham-post1593416.html