Kosovo 2-0 Sweden Player Ratings: Arijanet Muric Rated 8.5/10 as Clinical Kosovo Punish Wasteful Sweden 2-0

Yes, if you clicked the link because you can’t believe a country with a population of approximately 1.8 million beat the star-studded lineup of the Sweden national football team, you’re not alone! The Kosovo national football team did the unexpected as they beat Sweden with a 2-0 victory in Gameweek 6 of the European Qualifiers for the upcoming World Cup at Pristina City Stadium. The game started with Sweden dominating, as expected, while Kosovo prepared for counterattacks. However, as the match progressed, the synergy between Swedish players faltered. Forwards like Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres and Newcastle United’s new signing Elanga struggled to convert their chances, leaving Sweden’s attack ineffective. Kosovo capitalized on their opportunities, securing a historic lead by halftime.

The second half descended into a scrappy, foul-ridden affair. Sweden huffed and puffed, but their final ball was consistently poor and when they did get a shot away, they found Kosovo's keeper in inspired form. The frustration was palpable, leading to a flurry of yellow cards and a chaotic end to the match. A thoroughly deserved, if unexpected, win for the home side.

Here are the Kosovo Vs Sweden Player Ratings

Sweden Player Ratings vs Kosovo

Here are Sweden Player Ratings vs Kosovo

Goalkeeper

Robin Olsen - 5.5: He was left completely exposed for both goals, so it's hard to fault him too much there. Made a couple of decent saves in the second half to keep the scoreline respectable. However, we noticed he didn't command his area with much authority. An average performance on a tough night.

Defenders

Hjalmar Ekdal - 5.0: A difficult evening for the defender. He struggled with Kosovo's pace on the break and looked a step off. His night was cut short by an injury in the second half, which summed up his and Sweden's fortunes. He just never looked comfortable before he was substituted.

Isak Hien - 6.0: Statistically, he had a decent game with high pass completion and a good number of recoveries. But from our perspective, he was part of a central defensive pairing that was pulled apart too easily for both goals. He was tidy on the ball but lacked the defensive steel needed.

Gabriel Gudmundsson - 5.5: Like his defensive partners, he saw a lot of the ball and his passing was neat. He completed 95% of his passes. However, he offered very little going forward and was caught out of position a few times. Needed to be more assertive against Kosovo's counters.

Midfielders

Daniel Svensson - 5.0: A really anonymous first half. He failed to make any impact on the game and it was no surprise to see him hooked at halftime. He was a passenger in a midfield that was crying out for control and creativity. A day to forget for him.

Anton Salétros - 6.5: He was one of the few bright sparks for Sweden. What stood out to us was his constant effort to make things happen, creating three chances and having several shots from distance. His final product was lacking, but at least he showed some fight and desire to get his team back in it.

Yasin Ayari - 6.0: A frustrating performance to watch. He showed flashes of genuine quality with some nice dribbles and passes but lost possession 21 times. The talent is there, but he needs to be more consistent and make better decisions in the final third. A mixed bag.

Hugo Larsson - 5.0: Similar to Svensson, he was completely invisible in the first half. He was brought off at the break after offering next to nothing in an attacking or defensive sense. He looked lost and unable to cope with the game's intensity.

Alexander Bernhardsson - 5.5: He managed one of Sweden's few shots on target but that was about it. He worked hard but lacked the quality to truly trouble the Kosovo defence. Picked up a yellow card for a clumsy challenge before being substituted. An ineffective outing.

Forwards

Anthony Elanga - 4.5: A huge disappointment. We barely noticed he was on the pitch. His crossing was abysmal, and he failed to complete a single successful cross from eight attempts. He was a non-factor in the game and his substitution was long overdue. Probably Sweden's worst performer.

Viktor Gyökeres - 5.5: He was left isolated for long periods and had to feed on scraps. He did create a couple of chances and looked a threat when he got the ball, but it just wasn't his night. The service to him was poor, and he cut a frustrated figure up top. It's tough being a striker in a team that creates so little.

Substitutes

Ken Sema - 6.0: Came on at halftime and offered more width than Svensson, but his impact was minimal.

Sebastian Nanasi - 5.5: Replaced the ineffective Larsson but struggled to get into the game himself.

Benjamin Nygren - 5.5: Didn't have enough time to change the course of the match.

Emil Krafth - 5.0: Came on for the injured Ekdal and promptly got himself a yellow card.

Alexander Isak - 6.5: Looked lively when he came on and forced a couple of good saves, but also missed a clear headed chance.

Manager

J. Dahl Tomasson - 4.5: His game plan failed spectacularly. His team had all the possession but no ideas on how to break down a deep-lying defence. The halftime changes made little difference and his side looked tactically naive against Kosovo's simple but effective counter-attacking strategy.

Kosovo Player Ratings vs Sweden

Here are Kosovo Player Ratings vs Sweden

Goalkeeper

Arijanet Murić - 8.5: Absolutely outstanding. For us, he was the clear man of the match. He made four crucial saves, including a couple of brilliant stops in the second half to preserve the clean sheet. Commanded his area with total confidence and his distribution was solid. A near-perfect performance from Kosovo's highest-rated player.

Defenders

Dion Gallapeni - 8.0: A phenomenal display at both ends of the pitch. He was a rock defensively, winning seven duels, but what stood out was his attacking contribution. He created two chances, including one big chance, and was a constant outlet. A complete full-back performance that surprised us.

Fidan Aliti - 6.5: A solid, if unspectacular, outing. He made seven clearances and was generally in the right place at the right time. However, he picked up a needless yellow card and was dribbled past once. Did his job without being a standout.

Ilir Krasniqi - 7.5: Very composed and solid at the heart of the defense. He won most of his duels and made several key interceptions and clearances. Read the game beautifully and helped nullify the threat of Gyökeres. A really mature performance.

Lumbardh Dellova - 8.0: A defensive colossus. What a performance. He registered a staggering 13 clearances, putting his body on the line time and time again. He was an absolute wall that the Swedish attack simply could not get past. A truly dominant display of old-school defending.

Mërgim Vojvoda - 7.5: Excellent performance from the defender. He was defensively sound but also showed his class on the ball, creating three chances for his teammates. He provided a great balance between his defensive duties and supporting the attack.

Midfielders

Elvis Rexhbecaj - 8.0: He set the tone with his tireless running and scored the crucial opening goal with a well-taken finish. He was everywhere, breaking up play with two tackles and driving his team forward. A fantastic all-action display.

Florent Muslija - 7.0: A creative spark in the midfield. He was a bit wasteful in possession at times, but his willingness to take players on and create was vital for Kosovo's counter-attacks. He had a big chance that he missed, but his energy was infectious.

Albion Rrahmani - 7.5: Provided the assist for the opening goal and was a constant menace before being substituted. His link-up play was excellent, and he worked tirelessly for the team. A very effective performance in his hour on the pitch.

Leon Avdullahu - 7.0: The unsung hero in midfield. He did the simple things exceptionally well, kept possession ticking over, and put in a solid defensive shift. A disciplined and intelligent performance that allowed his more attacking teammates to shine.

Forwards

Vedat Muriqi - 8.0: A true captain's performance. He led the line brilliantly, holding up the ball and bringing others into play. He took his goal with supreme confidence, a powerful strike that sealed the game. His physicality was too much for the Swedish defenders to handle.

Substitutes

Fisnik Asllani - 6.0: Came on to give Muriqi a rest and worked hard but didn't have a major impact.

Muharrem Jashari - 6.5: Looked tidy on the ball and helped Kosovo see out the game.

Lindon Emërllahu - 3.0: A moment of madness. Came on as a sub and managed to get two yellow cards and sent off in just a few minutes of stoppage time.

Veldin Hodza - N/A: Came on too late to rate.

Manager

F. Foda - 9.0: An absolute tactical triumph. He set his team up perfectly to exploit Sweden's weaknesses. The game plan to sit deep and counter-attack worked flawlessly. His players knew their roles and executed them with discipline and quality. A brilliant coaching performance.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Arijanet Murić