With Zlatan Ibrahimovic back, Sweden dreamed of being able to secure their ticket to the World Cup on Thursday night. It was still a surprising 0-2 loss in Georgia and thus it is clear that the away match against Spain will be absolutely decisive.
With two rounds left of the World Cup qualifiers, Sweden led their qualifying group. On Thursday evening, Sweden had the opportunity to secure the group victory. To go to the World Cup, Sweden needed to defeat Georgia away, while Spain would have to take at most one point in Greece.
Georgia still beat Sweden and won 2-0. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored both goals for Georgia.
– It is an extremely heavy loss of course. And it is clear that we must score on our chances. I can not blame the guys themselves, but it’s clear we’ll make the first goal. And we will not leave here without scoring goals, says national team captain Janne Andersson according to SVT to C More after the match.
Sweden still has the opportunity to win the group, but it is now clear that everything will be decided in the last match against Spain away. The Greece – Spain match starts at 21.45.
If Spain takes three points against Greece, Sweden is whipped to defeat Spain away on Sunday night to win the group – otherwise a draw is enough for blue and yellow. In practice, it is already clear that Sweden will finish top-2 in the group.
On Thursday, four early evening matches were played. The six late evening matches start at 21.45.
Results:
Georgia – Sweden 2–0 (0–0)
61′ Khvicha Kvaratskhelia 1–0
78′ Khvicha Kvaratskhelia 2–0
Armenia – Northern Macedonia 0–5 (0–2)
Azerbaijan – Luxembourg 1-3 (0-0)
Russia – Cyprus 6-0 (1-0)
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