The 2010 World Cup winners Spain suffered their first World Cup qualifying defeat since 1993 as Sweden came from behind to end La Roja’s 66-game run in a World Cup qualifier on Thursday, September 2nd, 2021.
Carlos Soler volleyed Luis Enrique’s Spain into an early lead in Stockholm on his international debut.
But just 12 seconds after play resumed as Spanish La Liga’s Real Sociedad player Alexander Isak took advantage of a defensive mistake to slam home.
Viktor Claesson who plays for Russian Premier League side Krasnodor controlled by Juventus winger Dejan Kulusevski’s pass before firing in a famous winner from 12 yards out.
The previous team to beat Spain in a World Cup qualifier were Sweden’s neighbours, Denmark, in March 1993 in Copenhagen.
Since then Spain had won 52 World Cup qualifiers and drawn the other 14.
The win takes Sweden top of Group B on nine points from three games.
Spain have seven points from four games and could be facing a play-off for a place at the 2022 World Cup with only the group winners qualifying automatically.
“It’s a shame, we went for the win, and probably in our best period of the game they scored their second goal,” Spain captain Sergio Busquets said.
“The group is a lot more complicated now and we don’t have things in our own hands. We were going well, but perhaps lacked a bit of luck, but we have to continue – there’s still a number of games to go, even if right now the scenario isn’t the best.”
Sweden moved onto nine points with three wins from three games, while Spain dropped to second with seven points having played a match more.
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