Alexander Isak’s impressive performance in Sweden’s over Tunisia came as no surprise to team-mates Victor Lindelof and Yasin Ayari.
Isak scored one and assisted two more as Graham Potter’s side dominated their opening fixture at .
The performance saw Isak named and team-mate Lindelof believes it was the perfect response to those who doubted the striker’s form ahead of the tournament.
“I have huge admiration for him as a player and I have high expectations of him as well,” Lindelof told FIFA. “I expect nothing less from a player like him.
“People were questioning whether he was in good shape or in form before the World Cup and I think he showed it today with his performance.”
Ayari, who netted two himself as Sweden soared to the top of Group F, was equally impressed with the contribution of Isak, adding: “We know how good he is. We know what he can do when we give him the ball and today he showed in an important game what he can do.”
The game represented a particularly poignant occasion for Ayari, whose father is Tunisian.
“It was a tough game. An emotional game for me because this is my country as well,” the Brighton midfielder reflected. “I'm happy we could win the game and I'm happy to score two goals.”
Lindelof was also delighted with the result, which was Sweden’s second-biggest win at the World Cup – equalling the four-goal winning margin against Bulgaria in the 1994 play-off for third place but behind the record 8-0 dismantling of Cuba in 1938.
“Obviously very happy with the three points today,” Lindelof said. “It’s so special to go into the first game of a big tournament so for us to get the three points today is the perfect start.
“[In the] First half we controlled the game well with the ball; second half we controlled the game well without the ball. We knew if we stayed compact they would lose the ball eventually and then we had big spaces to attack.
“I think the game plan was absolutely perfect and I'm super happy with how we performed with and without the ball."
Sweden’s next outing is an all-European clash at on Saturday.
Sources: FIFA Official
