Elanga was in action during Sweden’s penultimate World Cup warm-up match against Norway
Anthony Elanga ahead of Sweden’s match against Norway(Image: 2026 Mateusz Slodkowski)
It is now just nine days until the 2026 World Cup kicks off in Mexico City, as Mexico take on South Africa in the opening game at the Estadio Banorte.
As such, preparations for the 48 countries competing in the summer showpiece across the USA, Mexico and Canada are stepping up a notch and that was no different for Anthony Elanga’s Sweden on Monday evening.
Graham Potter’s side travelled to Oslo to take on Norway but it was the hosts who will be feeling better about themselves ahead of the World Cup’s big kick-off next week as they ran out 3-1 winners.
Elanga started in a front two for Sweden alongside Club Brugge forward Gustaf Nilsson but failed to impact the game as he was replaced by Strasbourg forward Sebastian Nanasi at half-time.
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After a difficult first season on Tyneside, Elanga will hope to produce on the international stage ahead of a big second season at Newcastle to prove his worth after his £55million move from Nottingham Forest last summer.
But he was outshone at the Ullevaal Stadion by a potential Newcastle transfer target as RB Leipzig winger Antonio Nusa – mooted as a possible Anthony Gordon replacement – scored and starred for Norway.
The 21-year-old, who has three years remaining on his deal in Leipzig, is one of the most highly rated young wingers in Europe and displayed that when he cut inside his defender and whipped the ball right footed beyond the reach of Sweden goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom.
Antonio Nusa of Norway celebrates after scoring against Sweden(Image: 2026 Mateusz Slodkowski)
Crystal Palace forward Jorgen Strand Larsen bagged a brace, doing his chances of starting in the World Cup no harm in the absence of Man City forward Erling Haaland, to extend Norway’s lead to 3-0 before former Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak came off the bench to score a stunning solo goal.
Isak picked up the ball on the left-hand side and turned two Norwegian defenders inside out before firing the ball beyond Orjan Nyland in the Norway goal.
Alexander Isak scores for Sweden against Norway(Image: 2026 Mateusz Slodkowski)
It was a glimpse of Isak at his best and the Isak Newcastle regularly saw before his British record £125million move to Liverpool last summer. His first season at Anfield has been beset by injuries and Sweden are having to carefully manage a groin problem ahead of the World Cup. The Liverpool forward came off the bench in the 62nd minute in Oslo.
Isak, who suffered groin issues at Newcastle which troubled the club’s medical staff, tried to downplay the fact he was strapped up.
“It’s the kind of tape that many players use as a little support,” he said.
Sweden will host Greece in their final warm up match in Solna on Thursday before they look to advance from a World Cup group that also contains the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia. Isak is hoping to start against Greece and build up his fitness before the opener against Tunisia.
“If I feel fresh, I could definitely consider starting. It would probably be nice.
“With another match so close, this was probably the smartest thing to do. I feel at a level where I can make a difference. The most important thing is to be 100 for the Tunisia match. But I feel good and that’s the most important thing.”