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Liverpool star Alexander Isak will almost certainly be absent from next summer's World Cup after Sweden was beaten again in qualifying.
The Swedes are yet to win a qualifier, despite being drawn in what initially looked like a favorable group, alongside Kosovo, Slovenia and Switzerland. Sweden's loss to Kosovo on Monday leaves the nation with just one point from four games, and six points behind Kosovo, which occupies second place in the group.
A second-place finish would be enough to secure a spot in the play-offs, but Sweden must now win its final two qualifiers against Switzerland and Slovenia in November, and hope Kosovo loses its qualifiers against the same opponent, to ensure it has any chance of making it to the tournament.
"It's a bit of a crisis situation and that's clear," Isak said. "I don't know what we're going to do. But it's all too bad."
Explaining why he thinks Sweden is playing so poorly at the moment, he said: "We're playing too badly. The way we're playing doesn't work. We're doing it too badly individually too. So it's a combination of everything really."
Isak refused to get drawn into talk about Sweden manager Jon Dahl Tomasson's future, and said that everyone involved in the national team set-up is responsible for its struggles.
Elsewhere, Florian Wirtz lined up for Germany in its 1-0 win over Northern Ireland in Belfast, which was secured by Nick Woltemade's first goal for the senior team.
The result means Germany and Slovakia are neck and neck on nine points at the top of qualifying Group A. The two sides face off in Leipzig next month and the game could end up deciding which team secures automatic qualification for the World Cup.
German outlet Bild said in its player ratings that Wirtz's lack of influence for the national team continues to be a concern. It said: "The new Liverpool player, who is under fire in the UK, seemed to be putting in a lot of effort, as he did against Luxembourg, but he continues to be a concern in the German national team kit and isn't a decisive factor."
Bild's player ratings range from 1 to 6, with 1 being the best and 6 being the worst; Wirtz received a 4 for his efforts, just as he did in in last week's game against Luxembourg.
Northern Ireland captain Conor Bradley missed the game through suspension after picking up a booking in last week's win over Slovakia.
For France, Hugo Ekitike replaced Jean-Philippe Mateta in the 89th minute of France's 2-2 draw with Iceland in Paris. Ibrahima Konate missed the game entirely having withdrawn from the squad over the weekend due to a thigh injury.
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