HOUSTON, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Sweden coach Graham Potter expressed confidence in striker Alexander Isak ahead of his side's FIFA World Cup Group F match against the Netherlands on Saturday, saying the forward is continuing to improve after a challenging club season.
Isak played a key role in Sweden's 5-1 victory over Tunisia in its opening match, scoring once and providing two assists as Sweden made an impressive start to the tournament.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Friday, Potter said the 26-year-old had benefited from recent playing time after an injury-affected season at club level.
"Alex is still progressing physically and competitively," Potter said. "The more matches he plays, the better condition he will reach. He has the quality to influence games and we believe there is still more to come from him during the tournament."
Potter added that Isak had settled well within the national team environment and was enjoying his football again.
"He enjoys being around the squad and working with his teammates," Potter said. "When he is playing with confidence and freedom, he can be a very important player for us."
Sweden will face a Netherlands side seeking its first win of the tournament after drawing 2-2 with Japan in its opening fixture.
The match is expected to feature several notable individual battles, including the one between Isak and Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk, who are teammates at Liverpool.
Sweden's convincing victory over Tunisia has raised expectations surrounding the team, particularly the attacking partnership of Isak and Viktor Gyokeres, who both found the net in the opening match.
Despite the encouraging start, Potter cautioned against reading too much from a single result.
"We have made a positive start, but there is still a long way to go," he said. "The tournament is only beginning and every match presents a different challenge. Our focus is on continuing to improve." ■
