Isak missed out on a hat-trick - "No big deal"

Viktor Gyökeres served Alexander Isak's goal passes that laid the foundation for the 3-1 victory over Azerbaijan. Then Isak was kind and let his attacking companion take the penalty he himself had secured – and gave up the chance for a hat-trick. He is also a "striker" and wants to score goals. It was no big deal for me, says Isak.

» Updated: September 10 2024

» Published: September 05 2024

Isak missed out on a hat-trick - "No big deal"
Photo: Pontus Lundahl/TT

Isak has, despite nearly 50 international matches, never got to keep the match ball, which is traditionally given to the player who scores a hat-trick.

It's clear that you want to have a hat-trick here and there and in the national team, it hasn't happened yet. It would have been fun, but I'm not worried.

It will come, he says.

Showed what they can do

It took a while into the match – halfway into the second half at the Tofik Bähramov Stadium in Baku – before Gyökeres and Isak got the offensive collaboration to click.

You can't really expect much more. We have to show that we can combine and create things together.

We showed that today.

Both are prolific goal-scorers in their club teams, Isak in Newcastle in the Premier League and Gyökeres in Sporting Lisbon in the Portuguese league.

We might understand each other a bit better on how we want to have the balls, even if we're not the ones who are best at passing, says Isak.

The national team was saved by a penalty save by Viktor Johansson from being down 0-1 at halftime.

Isak was not satisfied with the performance before the break.

It was a bit frustrating. It felt like we got through several times but the last part was a bit locked. It opened up in the second half. We talked about them getting tired and they did.

Three points and three goals forward must be seen as an excellent start to the group stage in the Nations League.

A few too many counter-attacks

But there are a few things to work on.

The counter-attacks against us are something we need to look at how we can minimize. A few we get, as we play, accept that the opponent plays us out. We can get better at our reactions when we lose the ball. They had a few too many dangerous counter-attacks, says Alexander Isak.

He firmly believes in the national team under head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson and the generation of players being brought in by the Dane.

The potential is high. Looking at how many chances we create shows the potential, but we can polish our defensive game. If we get to this many chances, it will be fun to play.

It's up to us to take care of the chances, says Isak.

Already on Sunday, Estonia awaits at home on the Strawberry arena.

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By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

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