Tottenham star misses open goal as World Cup nightmare scenario emerges

Lucas Bergvall missed a sitter for Sweden (Image: Michael Campanella/Getty Images)

Lucas Bergvall missed an open goal during Sweden's clash with Switzerland on Friday evening.

The Tottenham Hotspur star has impressed in the Premier League this season under Thomas Frank , with a goal and an assist from six outings. And as a result, the 19-year-old was called up to represent his nation by Jon Dahl Tomasson, as Sweden look to stamp their ticket to the 2026 World Cup .

After holding Slovenia to a 2-2 draw in their opening match of the Qualifiers last month, and suffering a 2-0 loss at the hands of a ten-man Kosovo, the pressure was on for Sweden to succeed when they faced Murat Yakin's Swiss side at the Friends Arena on Friday evening.

However, Blagult failed to impress in the fixture, suffering a 2-0 loss at full-time and seeing their hopes of qualifying for next summer's tournament grow slimmer and slimmer. Granit Xhaka opened the scoring for his nation 65 minutes into the fold, coolly converting a penalty after Djibril Sow was brought down by Alexander Bernhardsson.

Johan Manzambi then doubled Switzerland's lead four minutes into stoppage time, as his shot from close range bobbled off the foot of Isak Hien and past a rooted Viktor Johansson.

However, Bergvall had the chance to change the outcome of the game moments before half-time. With the game level at 0-0 Viktor Gyokeres put Alexander Isak through on goal at the half-way line, with the Liverpool striker bundling goalward with an excellent touch to take the ball away from Manuel Akanji.

With two on his tail as he approached the edge of the box, Isak played a pinpoint ball to an unmarked Bergvall, who had the job of tapping it into an open goal. However, the ball ultimately found itself stuck underneath the feet of the centre-mid, who tripped over and left the ball in its place before Ricardo Rodriguez cleared his lines.

It comes as Sweden now sit rock bottom of Group B in the World Cup Qualifiers with one draw and two losses to their name. The nation will also face Kosovo once more come Monday, October 13, before Bergvall returns to Premier League action with Spurs.

Bergvall has impressed since joining Spurs in an £8.5million move from Djurgarden last February. To date, the youngster holds two goals and seven assists in from 55 appearances across all competitions for the Lilywhites.

He will hope to put behind the momentary blip he suffered against Switzerland ahead of his nation's clash with Kosovo, before he returns to club football with Spurs to face a struggling Aston Villa on Sunday, October 19.

Despite finishing 17th in the Premier League last term under Ange Postecoglou , Tottenham have enjoyed a far more fruitful term under Frank, with four wins, two draws and a single loss from their opening seven fixtures. Spurs occupy third in the league standings as a result, and will hope their momentum is still there when they play host to 13th-place Villa next week.