Anthony Elanga made his fourth appearance of the 2026 World Cup finals in New Jersey on Tuesday.
Sweden up against tournament favourites France in their round of 32 knockout match.
After two appearances off the bench and a cracking goal against the Netherlands in the second of those, Anthony Elanga was rewarded with a start against Japan in their final group match. His superb equaliser earned Sweden a draw against Japan and guaranteed they went into the knockout stages.
Playing France was always going to be tough and the reality was far worse than that!
Sweden were absolutely battered by Didier Deschamps side and it could have been heading well towards a double figures defeat if not for the woodwork (hit twice) wayward finishing and heroics from Zetterstrom in the Sweden goal.
Some of the play from France was exhilarating and if they play like this, difficult to see anybody beating them.
It somehow took until the 45th minute for Mbappe to smash home the first goal, Barcola scored in the 53rd minute and Mbappe then added his second and France’s third. The Sweden goal led a charmed life at times and an Olise overhead kick that hit the post was astonishing.
Anthony Elanga was actually Sweden’s best and biggest attacking threat, although not much competition. Apart from Zetterstrom in goal, the Newcastle United player was actually Sweden’s best performer overall.
It was tough because France controlled so much of the match but Elanga put in a few dangerous balls in the first half, he looked to have won a penalty with a quick give and go but an earlier offside was ruled against one of his teammates, whilst the winger won Sweden’s one and only corner.
Viktor Gyokeres had the odd moment as well but our old friend Alexander Isak was abysmal and looked like he gave up as the match went on.
To his credit, Anthony Elanga never stopped trying and played the full match. I thought he looked a lot more controlled and was making the right decisions, when to pass and when to take on his man. Only a relatively limited amount of time across these four World Cup matches but I do think from what we watched as Newcastle United fans, this was far more like the player we thought NUFC had bought from Forest last summer.
Newcastle United started these 2026 World Cup finals with six players (seven if you include Tino Livramento) and now only three remain after the exits of Germany pair Nick Woltemade and Malick Thiaw, plus Anthony Elanga now.
Bruno Guimaraes is of course still in the tournament and one of Dan Burn or Yoane Wissa will join the United captain in the last 16. England face DR Congo at 5pm this Wednesday afternoon.
BBC Sport asks visitors to rate all players out of 10 in matches and Anthony Elanga was rated top outfield player for Sweden by them in this France match:
7.45 Zetterstrom
6.18 Anthony Elanga
5.53 Gudmundsson
(Alexander Isak rated the 16th best Swedish player of 16 with a rating of 4.28)
The 2026 World Cup group games and knockout schedule for Newcastle United players:
Saturday 13 June
Morocco 1 Brazil 1 (Bruno Guimaraes assist for Vinicius Jnr equaliser)
Sunday 14 June
Curacao 1 Germany 7 (Malick Thiaw and Nick Woltemade unused subs)
Monday 15 June
Tunisia 1 Sweden 5 (Anthony Elanga introduced in the 91st minute when Sweden led 4-1)
Wednesday 17 June
Portugal 1 DR Congo 1 (Yoane Wissa with a brilliant headed goal to equalise just before the break)
Croatia 2 England 4 (Dan Burn an unused sub as England entertain!)
Saturday 20 June
Haiti 0 Brazil 3 (Bruno Guimaraes stars in comfortable win)
Ivory Coast 1 Germany 2 (Malick Thiaw and Nick Woltemade were unused subs)
Netherlands 5 Sweden 1 (Anthony Elanga brought on at 4-0 down and scored a cracking goal)
Tuesday 23 June
Ghana 0 England 0 (Dan Burn an unused sub in this bore draw for England)
Wednesday 24 June
Colombia 1 DR Congo 0 (Yoane Wissa played the full match as Colombia won with a 76th minute goal)
Scotland 0 Brazil 3 (Bruno Guimaraes with two classy assists to top off an excellent display)
Thursday 25 June
Ecuador 2 Germany 1 (A poor Germany performance despite taking a 2nd minute lead. Ecuador fully deserving the comeback win as Nick Woltemade stayed on the bench but Malick Thiaw did okay when coming on to play the final half hour at right-back)
Friday 26 June
Japan 1 Sweden 1 (Anthony Elanga starting the game and a brilliant long range curling finish that levelled the match and guaranteed Sweden progress to the last 32)
Saturday 27 June
Panama 0 England 2 (Dan Burn an unused sub as England eventually score twice in the final half hour to top the group)
Sunday 28 June
Uzbekistan 1 DR Congo 3 (Yoane Wissa the two goal man of the match as DR Congo turn a 1-0 half-time deficit into a 3-1 win after the break)
Round of 32 knockout matches:
Monday 29 June
Paraguay 1 Germany 1 (Nick Woltemade and Malick Thiaw come off the bench but Germany lose on penalties after extra time, Big Nick one of three Germany players who fail to score in the shoot out)
Tuesday 30 June
France 3 Sweden 0 (Anthony Elanga was Sweden’s best outfield player but Sweden blown away by France)
Wednesday 1 July
England (Dan Burn) v DR Congo (Yoane Wissa) 5pm (BBC1)