LJUBLJANA, Sweden (AP) — Sweden left Alexander Isak on the bench for a World Cup qualifying game in Slovenia on Friday, days after the star forward ended his holdout at Newcastle to join Liverpool for an English record transfer fee.

Isak, who cost Liverpool a reported 125 million pounds ($170 million), has not played a competitive game since May 25 in Newcastle’s season-ending 1-0 loss at home to Everton. He last played for Sweden in March and scored in a 5-1 win over Northern Ireland in a friendly.

Sweden coach Jon Dahl Tomasson opted not to start the 25-year-old forward against Slovenia in Ljubljana, where the teams open a World Cup qualifying group.

Sweden’s attack did include Viktor Gyökeres and Anthony Elanga, who also made expensive moves this offseason to English teams who will

See Full Page