Madrid (AFP)

Back to reality: after the enchanting parenthesis of the Euro, where it climbed to the semi-final, Spain was showered by the young Swedish attacking duo Alexander Isak - Dejan Kulusevski (2-1) on Thursday in Solna as part of the qualifications for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

After the initial ping-pong, which saw Alexander Isak (6th) answer the tac-au-tac at the opening of the score of Carlos Soler (5th), it is Viktor Claessen who delivered his own to Solna (north- west of Stockholm) by scoring the winning goal in the 57th, on a superb pass from young Juventus Turin winger Kulusevski (21).

The joy of Swedish midfielder Viktor Claesson, after scoring the second goal against Spain, during qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, September 2, 2021 at Solna Jonathan NACKSTRAND AFP

With this setback, Spain gives up its first place in Group B to the Scandinavian selection, which has one game less.

- First since 1993 -

The last Spanish defeat in a World Cup qualifying match dated back to 1993 (1-0 in Denmark).

The Spanish coach Luis Enrique, during the qualifications for the World Cup-2022 in Qatar, against Sweden, on September 2 in Solna Mid Jonathan NACKSTRAND AFP

A terrible return to earth for the selection of Luis Enrique, who seduced Europe this summer with his ardor, his youth and his game of possession.

While the first meeting of Group E of Euro between these same two nations had resulted in a sad 0-0 and an incalculable number of missed opportunities on the Spanish side, Thursday, their reunion did not offer the same spectacle.

Sweden did not spend the game defending, and played their luck at home, taking advantage of the speed and talent of their offensive assets: Alexander Isak, the 21-year-old center-forward whom the Spaniards have known well since his arrival at Real Sociedad in 2019, and Dejan Kulusevski, the Juve winger who is no longer to present.

The joy of the Swedish striker Alexander Isak, after having equalized (1-1) against Spain, during the qualifications for the World Cup-2022 in Qatar, on September 2 in Solna Jonathan NACKSTRAND AFP

La Roja, conversely, found the same ills as at the start of the Euro.

She managed to get some good chances - although fewer than in Seville - but kept stumbling against Swedish goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Like the big opportunity missed by Ferran Torres after returning from the locker room (49th), or the shot stopped by Adama Traoré (68th).

And Alexander Isak could have driven the point home, if Aymeric Laporte had not signed a heroic comeback in the 79th, with a tackle as dangerous as it was successful in his own area, in the feet of Isak.

Both Isak and Kulusevski were warmly applauded by their home crowd when they left in the 85th minute.

The selection of Luis Enrique will have to correct the situation against two opponents much inferior on paper: Sunday (20:45 / 18:45 GMT), the Spaniards face Georgia on their soil, in Badajoz, before going to Kosovo on Wednesday.

There will be a total of 6 games left for the Spaniards to try to regain first place in Group B, the only ticket that offers a direct qualification to Qatar.

© 2021 AFP