Sweden’s star-studded international team slumped to yet another humiliating defeat on Monday night – and Anthony Elanga reportedly couldn’t conceal his frustration post-match.
The Scandinavian nation sit bottom of their World Cup Qualifying group after four fixtures with just a solitary point despite boasting a strike-force of Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres worth close to £200m.
They’ve scored a measly two goals in the entirety of their campaign while leaking a concerning seven at the back.
And Sweden’s all-Premier League frontline were ineffective once again last night as they were beaten by European minnows Kosovo in Stockholm.
A first-half goal from Fisnik Asllani proved enough to seal the victory for the visitors, who have now completed the double over Sweden and sit second in their group.
Tensions unsurprisingly well and truly boiled over in the Swedish camp in the aftermath of the disastrous defeat, with the nation now on the verge of missing out on next summer’s World Cup.
Manager Jon Dahl Tomasson is under increasing pressure, according to local outlet SportBladet, with a number of stars thought to be losing confidence in the 49-year-old.
One of those is reportedly Newcastle United’s Elanga, left out of both his country’s qualifiers this week, who expressed his discontent in the tunnel post-match.
‘The damn system must go,’ the Swede is reported to have cried by Radiosporten.
Speaking to reporters later on, the out of favour winger added: ‘We have worked on a system, on how we are going to play. Then it may look a little different when you are on the field. It is also us who are on the field who have to take responsibility.’
The Swedes are also believed to have been left bemused by a strange method used by their manager in the build-up to the Kosovo clash in a bid to stop information leaking to the press.
Tomasson chose to reveal his starting eleven for the fixture just one hour before kick-off in a move which Tottenham Hotspur’s Lucas Bergvall questioned.
‘It may have happened at some point in my career,’ he said, ‘it doesn’t have a big impact on me but I can’t speak to everyone else.’
Bergvall, who’s become one of Thomas Frank’s first names on the team-sheet in north London this season, was withdrawn at half-time in the defeat to Kosovo, revealing afterwards that the manager’s decision was purely a tactical one.
‘I was completely healthy,’ the 19-year-old said.
‘No (I haven’t received an explanation), it’s hard to take. I feel refreshed, but you have to respect that.’
Alexander Isak went close to finding a much-needed equaliser for his country on three occasions, including in stoppage-time.
The Liverpool forward fired a header at goal with just minutes to go but the visitor’s ‘keeper Arijanet Muric pulled off a stunning stave to deny him.
And speaking in his press conference, Tomasson admitted his side have ‘forgotten’ how to score goals.
‘I have a contract with the Swedish federation and we are in the middle of qualifying,’ he responded to speculation he could resign.
‘Of course, it’s not good enough and it’s a terrible result. It really hurts, we forgot how to score goals and I don’t know why.’
Sweden face Switzerland and Slovenia in their final two qualifiers next month with only a slim chance of securing a play-off place.
