Celtic midfielder Benjamin Nygren was once again an unused substitute as Sweden suffered a humiliating 1–0 defeat at home to Kosovo, leaving their World Cup qualifying hopes in tatters.
The 24-year-old, who has impressed in flashes since arriving in Glasgow, was named in the squad for the crucial fixture but didn’t feature, just as he didn’t in the previous 2–0 loss away to Kosovo or the recent defeat to Switzerland.
Despite Sweden’s attacking struggles, Nygren remained on the bench, raising questions about his place in the national team setup.
Sweden now sit bottom of Group B with just one point, having failed to score in either game against Kosovo. The latest loss at the Friends Arena was a low point in an already troubled campaign, as fans and media alike pointed to a lack of creativity and cutting edge in midfield, areas where Nygren has shown promise at club level.
While still uncapped at senior international level, Nygren has long been viewed as one of Sweden’s brightest attacking prospects. His move to Celtic was seen as a chance to push into regular international contention, but so far, he hasn’t been given a chance to make an impact.
Celtic fans may feel a mix of frustration and relief, frustration that their player isn’t getting recognition on the international stage, but relief that Nygren returns to Glasgow fresh and uninjured, potentially with a point to prove.
As Sweden’s campaign unravels, pressure is mounting on manager Jon Dahl Tomasson
to shake things up. If the current form continues, Nygren’s opportunity may still come, but for now, he remains on the outside looking in.
