‘I’m not aware of him… an old player in the studio?’: Gary Lineker left red-faced after Sweden hero Alexander Isak admits he doesn’t know who he is after hearing the BBC host praised his display in the Euro 2020 victory against Slovakia
- Gary Lineker praised Alexander Isak’s display in Sweden’s win over Slovakia
- Lineker said that Europe’s elite clubs will be interested in buying Isak, who is 21
- But Isak said he didn’t know who Lineker was when told of the compliments
- Lineker took it in good spirits, retweeting the quotes with a ‘grandad’ emoji
For most footballers at Euro 2020, praise from Gary Lineker is a badge of honour. But for Sweden’s Alexander Isak, compliments from the BBC host won’t be going to his head any time soon.
After Isak starred in Sweden’s 1-0 win over Slovakia at Euro 2020 on Friday, Lineker sang his praises and predicted a vast number of Europe’s major sides will be interested in signing Isak in the summer transfer window.
But when Lineker’s words were put to Sweden’s man of the moment after the match, they were met with an awkwardly dry response.
Alexander Isak said he was unsure who Gary Lineker is after hearing about the BBC presenter praising his performance in the Sweden victory over Slovakia at Euro 2020
Isak produced a superb flick in the build-up to the penalty that won Sweden the Euro 2020 tie
‘I am not that aware of him,’ Isak said of Lineker. ‘It’s an old player working in the studio?’
When he was told that Lineker was top scorer at the 1986 World Cup, Isak said: ‘I wasn’t born then but I have a little bit of knowledge about him.’
Isak’s quotes soon made their way to Lineker via Twitter, with the 60-year-old retweeting them alongside the ‘grandad’ emoji.
And Lineker was soon playfully taunted by Piers Morgan about the quotes, with Morgan retweeting them alongside several ‘crying with laughter’ emojis.
Lineker offered an amusing response when it emerged that Isak didn’t know who he was
Isak’s quotes were highly amusing to Piers Morgan, who was quick to taunt his friend Lineker
The 21-year-old forward played a pivotal role in the penalty that earned Sweden the 1-0 win – flicking a delightful ball through to Robin Quaison who was felled by Slovak goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, which allowed Emil Forsberg to slam home from 12 yards.
Isak, who scored 17 LaLiga goals for Real Sociedad last season, has been linked by reports with a move to Arsenal and Lineker hinted at the forward becoming the breakout star for the tournament.
The Match of the Day host tweeted: ‘Don’t think there’s much doubt that Alexander Isak will attract a lot of attention from clubs across Europe. Exceptional talent.’
Lineker was just one of a number of people left impressed by the standard of Isak’s display
BBC and Sportsmail pundit Micah Richards believes Isak is a ‘gem’ of the player after his heroics against Sweden and highlighted the 21-year-old’s recent links by reports to Arsenal.
He told the BBC: ‘He’s got such quick feet for a big man. If there was anyone who was going to make the difference in this game, it was this man.
‘He can do it in the Premier League. I would love to see him in the Premier League, he’s been linked to Arsenal so I might have found a gem there.’
Isak is yet to get off the mark at Euro 2020 this summer, but did impress during Sweden’s first group game – a 0-0 draw with Spain on Monday night.
The striker was a problem for both the Spain and Slovakian defences, with former Arsenal defender Alex Scott claiming he gave his team a much-needed spark after a dull first-half in St Petersburg.
The 21-year-old also performed well during Sweden’s 0-0 draw with Spain on Monday night
Scott said: ‘He was that one player giving them a bit of magic and that bit of a spark. We’ve seen him taking getting to the back post, leaping for headers.
‘You knew because of the whole game, something was happening because of him which led to the penalty.
‘He’s got ability to get your head down, take players on 1v1 in the box. He managed to tell his players to get up the field and come with me.’
Former Wales defender Ashley Williams added: ‘I think he set the tone in the second half for Sweden. At times he was doing everything on his own and taking three or four men.
Isak (left) scored 17 goals for Real Sociedad in Spain last year and has been linked to Arsenal
‘He’s had a good season but now watching him and a couple of times (at Euro 2020), he’s exciting, unusual a different type of player.
‘They are the type of players that you can see and watch and get you going. I think he played very well in the first game as well.’
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette as first-choice striker options, though the latter has just one year left on his Gunners contract.
Eddie Nketiah, Gabriel Martinelli and Folarin Balogun are the back-up strikers at the Emirates Stadium, though the Brazilian is able to play out wide.
