HIGHLIGHTS
FINAL SCORE | SWE 3-2 POL
FULL TIME: Sweden tops the group and is set to meet Czech Republic. Poland, which finishes right at the bottom of the pile, is headed homewards. Spain, meanwhile, will play Croatia next.
90 + 4' Kulusevski lays one on the path of Claesson, who hammers the final nail! Sweden heaves a sigh of relief. Poland exits Euro 2020.
90 + 1' Frankowski dispatches another cross into the box but Lewandowski’s too far off and Swierczok doesn't manage to get to it either.
90' There will be five additional minutes.
84' This match isn't over! Lewandowski equalises in stunning fashion. Frankowski sends in a decent cross into the box. Lewandowski wins back possession from the Swedish defenders and slots home.
83' Glick gets booked after he clatters into Kulusevski.
81' A horrible shot from fresh-off-the-bench Placheta, who sees the ball rocket into outer space.
78' Placheta IN. Krychowiak OUT. Poland cannot afford a red card here.
77' Forsberg has been rested. Claeson replaces him.
75' Krychowiak goes into the ref's book for pulling off a late challenge on Olsson. Meanwhile, Spain has taken a 5-0 lead over Slovakia. Wowza!
72' Kozlowski comes on for Klich.
71' A brief stoppage in play for the final drinks break of the game.
67' Changes: Berg and Krafth to replace Isak and Lustig respectively.
61' GOAAAAL! LEWANDOWSKI's 11TH GOAL IN HIS LAST 13 STARTS AND THIS IS A SCREAMER FROM 20 YARDS OUT ON THE LEFT. Lewandowski, and only Lewandowski, could have done this.
59' Forsberg gets on the scoresheet again. A right-footed shot this time has all but sealed the deal. Kulusevski comes off the bench and breaks into a spirited run down the right in a counter-attacking move by the host before feeding the ball to Forsberg in the centre.
56' The ball goes out for a corner kick after Isak struggles for space at the near post.
54' Kulusevski comes on for Quaison.
52' Lewandowski goes down in the area after crashing into Danielson. The Polish striker asks for a penalty but the referee isn't interested.
50'Close! Forsberg unleashes a fiery strike but an alert Szczesny wards off the impending danger.
49' Frankowski finds Zielinski, who swings just wide.
45' And we are underway... As things stand, Sweden is set to top this group, Spain will come second, and Ukraine will take third place.
HT: The Swedish defensive strategy is working wonders yet again as it continues to maintain a clean sheet in Euro 2020. The side's record came close to being broken on a number of occasions but somehow Janne Andersson's boys have held on.
45' Three minutes have been added on.
44' Poland looking to pile on in the final moments of the first half. A nice little one-two at the edge of the box between Lewandowski and Zielinski is followed by the latter going for the pull of the trigger. The athletic Olsen comes to the rescue of the Swedes again.
43' Olsen comes off his line to stop Jozwiak's lofted cross into the six-yard area from finding an onrushing Lewandowski.
39' Poland wins two back-to-back corners. Swiderski drives into the box but it has been headed away by the Swedish defence.
26' Time for a cooling break.
17' How did Lewandowski miss a double header with nobody between him and the goal?! This is unbelievable. Two chances and both crash into the crossbar.
14' A timely interception from Bereszynski saves the day! It was all but 2-0 for the host as Isak loses possession. A corner has been awarded but the danger has been booted clear.
2' GOAL! Forsberg takes over a high cross at the edge of the box from Isak and drills it into the far corner.
LINEUPS
Sweden: Olsen; Lustig, Lindelof, Augustinsson, Danielson; Larsson (C), Ekdal, Forsberg, Kristoffer, Quaison; Isak
Subs: Johnsson, Nordfeldt, Bengtsson, Berg, Svensson, Helander, Sema, Krafth, Claesson, Jansson, Kulusevski, Cajuste.
Poland: Szczesny; Bereszynski, Glik, Bednarek, Puchacz; Jozwiak, Krychowiak, Klich; Zielinski, Swiderski, Lewandowski (C)
Subs: Skorupski, Fabianski, Dawidowicz, Kedziora, Kozlowski, Linetty, Rybus, Placheta, Frankowski, Kownacki, Swierczak, Helik.
PREDICTED XI
Sweden: Olsen; Augustinsson, Danielson, Lindelof, Lustig; Kristoffer, Ekdal, Larsson, Forsberg; Isak, Berg
Poland: Szczesny; Bednarek, Glik, Bereszynski; Puchacz, Jozwiak, Krychowiak, Klich, Zielinski; Swiderski, Lewandowski
RECENT FORM
Sweden: W-D-W-W-W
Poland: D-L-D-D-L
MATCH PREVIEW
Robert Lewandowski is facing another early exit from a major international tournament.
Unless, that is, Poland can find a way past one of the tightest defenses at the European Championship.
Beating Sweden is Poland’s only route to the knockout stage of Euro 2020 — and that’s something no team has managed in seven games in 2021.
Where there is Lewandowski, though, there is hope for Poland.
READ |
FIFA’s reigning player of the year recovered from an underwhelming display in Poland’s 2-1 loss to Slovakia in Group E by scoring the equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Spain to effectively keep his team in contention at the tournament.
It was a classic striker’s finish, too, using his strength to hold off his marker, Aymeric Laporte, and directing a header from a cross into the bottom corner for his 67th international goal.
Lewandowski had to feed off scraps against Spain and the same could be the case against Sweden, an ultra-pragmatic team whose attacking ambitions might be even more limited than normal at Saint Petersburg Stadium today.
Sweden, after all, has four points from its opening two games in Group E — a 0-0 draw against Spain and a 1-0 win over Slovakia — and was assured of qualifying for the round of 16 because of the results of Monday's games.
A win would secure a first place in the group. Then again, so might a draw.
Sweden is one of three teams yet to concede a goal at Euro 2020, along with Italy and England. Given that stat, and the team's inclination to defend compactly and in numbers especially when it doesn't need to attack, it explains why Poland is facing such a tough task.
Lewandowski has only advanced from the group stage once in three appearances at either a World Cup or a European Championship with Poland. That was at Euro 2016, the first time the continental tournament had been expanded to 24 teams.
While 67 goals in 121 games for Poland is a amazing record, the Bayern Munich striker is often starved of quality service at major tournaments when the standard of opposition increases. He has only three goals in 13 games at a World Cup or European Championship.
Poland, which is in last place in the group with one point, could be without defender Jan Bednarek and midfielder Jakub Moder because of injury.
Sweden coach Janne Andersson may decide to change his lineup now that qualification is guaranteed, and give some game time to fringe players.
Dejan Kulusevski could return for Sweden after being left on the bench against Slovakia. The winger had just returned to full training after completing a period of self-isolation after contracting the coronavirus.
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