Ljubljana. There were bewildering scenes for the Slovenian national team, TV pundits and the public when Alexander Isak caught the ball before Sweden’s penalty kicked.
Everything went exactly according to plan.
I grab the ball and let Emil focus on him, says Isaacs.
With 39 minutes played, FC’s Alexander Isak fell dramatically outside the penalty area, but the referee booked Alexander Isak for representing him.
Emil Forsberg He is the first player to take a penalty in Sweden and there was no indication that the midfielder would not get a chance to take that penalty either, except for the sequence that occurred after the penalty decision. Forsberg gathered the entire team in the middle of the field and instead Alexander Isak stood in the penalty area with the ball under his arm, the other around the referee and receiving enthusiasm from the Slovenian players.
– I don’t really know what they were thinking when I actually stood there.
How long is this punishment plan?
– It’s something we talked about for a while, I think it was before the World Cup qualifiers. It’s mostly, says Isaacs, that I keep the ball and let Emil focus on what he has.
“It’s good he has the ball”
Emil Forsberg then left the rest of the team after giving instructions, taking the ball back from Isaacs before going forward and setting up his amazing 27 out of 31 hits in his career.
“As always it felt good, I think he thought I hit him in the other corner because he threw himself in there,” says Forsberg satisfied.
Tell us about your covenant and the covenant of Isaac before the punishment?
– It’s good that he catches the ball so we can breathe a little. I can walk around and talk to some guys and give some tactical instructions. It’s very cute, works very well, and it’s something we’ll keep going, says Foppa.
Praise from Anderson
In the press conference afterward, Janne Andersson had several opinions on how to improve the new playing system (4-3-3), but when it came to the penalty kick and Isak’s acting, it was only a tribute from the national team captain.
– Alexander Isak takes the ball as if he took the penalty kick and he does so only because Slovenia can press him. Emil can instead go to the side which is very good because then the player who will hit the penalty kick can calmly and calmly focus until the time comes. Anderson says Alexander is a very smart, mature football player.