Sweden’s Emil Forsberg and Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, who scored two goals each, played a great duel today that fell to the Scandinavian side (3-2), since Poland was knocked out of the European Championship.
In addition to the victory, Sweden brilliantly qualified first in Group E with seven points, ahead of Spain, who beat Slovakia (5-0), also eliminated.
The Scandinavians scored at the minute of the match, forcing the Slavs to play uphill for the rest of the match. They had plenty of chances to level, but it was Forsberg who scored again on a great move by Kulusevski.
Lewandowski, who today became the top Polish scorer in European Championship history, closed the gap with a trademark missile and then equalized with a handful of minutes remaining. The Bayern striker never stopped believing in the miracle until the final whistle.
He leaves for home with three goals to his credit.
The match was marked by high temperatures for the second Russian city -more than 30 degrees- and high levels of humidity.
The change-loving Sweden coach had had enough of Marcus Berg and replaced him with Quaison, who forms a much more dynamic pairing with Isak.
Paulo Sousa recovered ex-Sevillista Krychowiak, sent off against the Slovaks. He said he was not going to crucify him for that sin and he kept his word.
The entire Polish preparation went to waste a minute and a half into the game. Isak chested down a pass on the edge of the area, Forsberg took the ball away as the Polish defenders failed to clear the ball and his low, left-footed cross shot past Szszesny.
The game was where the Swedes wanted. Ahead on the scoreboard and qualified for the round of 16 as group leaders.
Poland was knocked out for several minutes, but eventually caught their breath. Lewandowski was unwilling to hang up his gloves.
Coming out of a corner, Lewandowski finished off the crossbar. The rejection was headed again by the Bayern attacker with the bad luck that he was again spit on the wood. The play did not end there.
Faced with the Scandinavian passivity, the ball fell to the same player again, but a few centimeters from the goal line he was unable to introduce the ball into the nets. Incredible but true.
From there, the Poles locked up the Swedes in their camp. The missing Zielinski forced Olsen to work hard to clear a shot from outside the box over the crossbar.
Sousa’s pupils earned the tie, but went into the break with half a foot out of the tournament.
Needing two goals, the Poles went all out of the locker room. As soon as it started, Zielinski again put Olsen’s gloves to the test, who also saved his team a few minutes later from a Krychowiak shot.
Quaison also forced the Polish goalkeeper to stretch after a defensive failure. The Swedes needed more from Isak, but the Real forward was not involved in the match.
So, Anderson got the changes right. He introduced Kulusevski, the young star of Juventus, who changed the game.
He only stole the ball in the midfield, ran like a gazelle the 40 meters to the big area and there he gave the ball to Forsberg to score the second with a shot placed to the left post defended by Szczesni. (min.59)
Poland was dead. Lewandowski did not accept the death certificate. Two minutes later, he received a long ball, faked the defender and took a shell out of his hat that was placed by the left squad defended by Olsen. (min. 61)
There was still time for a miracle. Lewandowski never stopped believing, scoring an opportunistic goal with six minutes remaining in regulation time. (min.84)
Poland tried, but the Swedish defense resisted the onslaught. Take note of your next rival in the round of 16. Beating Sweden costs sweat and tears.
When it seemed that the tables were immovable, Claesson scored the winning goal in injury time and guaranteed first place in the group for his team. Spain, second.
– Data sheet:
3 – Sweden: Olsen; Lustig (Krafth, min. 68), Lindelof, Danielson, Augustinsson; Larsson, Ekdal, Olsson, Forsberg (Claesson, m in.78); Isak (Berg, min.68) and Quaison (Kulusevski, min.55).
Selector: Jane Anderson
2 – Poland: Szczesni; Bereszynski, Bednarek, Glik; Jozwiak (Swierczok, min.61), Klich (Koslowski, min.73), Krychowiak (Placheta, min.78), Zielinski, Puchacz (Frankowski, min.46); Lewandowski and Swiderski.
Selector: Paulo Sousa
goals: 1-0, min. 2: Forsberg. 2-0, min. 59: Forsberg. 2-1, min.61: Lewandowski. 2-2 min. 84: Lewandowski. 3-2, min.94: Claesson.
Referee: Michael Oliver (ENG). He admonished Danielson (min.10), Krychowiak (min.74) and Glik (min.83).
Incidents: match corresponding to the third day of Group E played at the Krestovski stadium in Saint Petersburg. EFE (hn)