Houston (AFP) – Striker Alexander Isak will get “stronger and stronger” and is smiling again, Sweden coach Graham Potter said Friday in a World Cup warning to defences. Isak had a poor season by his standards after Liverpool paid Newcastle United a British-record £125 million last summer for him. He struggled for fitness and form, but showed some of his brilliant best as Sweden opened their World Cup with a 5-1 thrashing of Tunisia.
The 26-year-old scored one goal and set two up, with strike partner Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal also netting. Speaking on the eve of Saturday’s tasty group clash with the Netherlands in Houston, the Englishman Potter said: “Alex has had a season that has been interrupted. Most football players would say they need a certain amount of time and games to get up to top, top level, so we’ve had to try to build Alex up.”
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“I think there’s more to come from him. He’s not at that place where he’s at absolute maximum, but obviously with the quality he has and the type of player he is, he can still influence the game. I think he’ll get stronger and stronger as the tournament goes, and that’s where our work is to try and help him get better and better, stronger and stronger.”
After a trying first season at Liverpool, where he made only 14 appearances in the Premier League and scored three goals, Potter said he saw a player enjoying his football again. “That’s the most important thing, I think, with Alex. I think he likes being with the team, he likes being with the players. He enjoys it, plays with a smile on his face. And if we do that, then he’s fantastic.”
There are several intriguing battles looming in the Group F match in Houston. Chief among them, Isak will come face to face with Netherlands and Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk. The Dutch, who drew 2-2 with Japan to start their World Cup, have another Anfield attacker in Cody Gakpo. In the Netherlands midfield, there is also Ryan Gravenberch.
The big win over Tunisia and the strike force of Gyokeres and Isak has sparked talk that Sweden could go far in North America. But they only squeezed into the tournament via the playoffs, and Potter, who took charge in October, said: “We know that we’re a work in progress and we’re improving. We’ve taken a step, but all we’ve done is played one match. That’s it.”
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