A doubling from Emil Forsberg and Viktor Claesson’s late strike helped Sweden bypass a warring Poland on Wednesday night, topped Group E and sent their opponents out of Euro 2020 in the process.
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Forsberg capitalized on a poor Poland that defended to open the scoring and slalomed around some slack challenges to shoot past Wojciech Szczesny in just 82 seconds – the second fastest goal in the history of the Euro after Dmitry Kirichenko’s effort for Russia against Greece in 2004.
Robert Lewandowski passed two great opportunities to equalize from a corner and hit pretty much the same part of the crossbar with two peaks in quick succession.
Forsberg grabbed his second to put Sweden under control after fantastic work on the right side from the returning Dejan Kulusevski, but Lewandowski reconciled for his previous misses with a brilliant attempt to make it 2-1.
The Bayern Munich freight forwarder heroically took his side level late and checked Przemyslaw Frankowski’s cross to slide into the equalizer. However, Sweden took advantage of the space left behind when Poland chased a winner and Claesson swept in to win his side in the group and send Poland to crash out of Euro 2020. Sweden will probably face Ukraine in the 16s.
Let’s go into the players’ ratings.
Olsen commanded in goal for Sweden / DMITRY LOVETSKY / Getty Images
Robin Olsen (GK) – 7/10 – Took a bang during the chaos of Lewandowski’s misses but soldiers to enjoy a good game. Zielinski denied from range a few times and could not do anything about Lewandowski’s goal.
Mikael Lustig (RB) – 6/10 – Fairly steady. Good in the air but passing was quite irregular and only 33% of those tried completed.
Victor Lindelof (CB) – 6/10 – Not as poor as his center-back partner. Be careful with his passing and won a lot in the air.
Marcus Danielson (CB) – 5/10 – Booked early to try to stop a counterattack after giving away the ball. Should have handled a simple cross in the build-up to Lewandowski’s second but could not.
Ludwig Augustinsson (LB) – 5/10 – Quite average. Not very outstanding but was not rinsed either.
Forsberg brann / Anton Vaganov – Pool / Getty Images
Sebastian Larsson (RM) – 5/10 – The cross quality was a disappointment from the old Premier League expert. Traced back all afternoon.
Kristoffer Olsson (CM) – 6/10 – Steady and efficient. Foulades a few times and recovered the ball on three occasions.
Albin Ekdal (CM) – 6/10 – Was not so efficient in possession but was combative and made a couple of tackles.
Emil Forsberg (LM) – 9/10 – Opened the score clinically within two minutes and doubled the lead in the second half and whipped the ball past Szczesny. Both were quality finishers.
Robin Quaison (ST) – 5/10 – Tested Szczesny with a low insert from the edge of the box. Enjoy 12 touches of the ball before it was dropped before the hour mark.
Alexander Isaac (ST) – 7/10 – Got himself an assist for Forsberg’s strike, but did not know much about it when he tumbled on the floor and the ball accidentally hit his foot. Brought after a decent show.
Kulusevski’s introduction changed the game / Maxim Shemetov – Pool / Getty Images
Dejan Kulusevski – 8/10 – The introduction of the Juventus forward gave rise to Sweden’s attack in the second half and set up both their goals during that period.
Emil Krafth – 5/10
Marcus Berg – 5/10
Viktor Claesson – 7/10 – Make the most of his late arrival, his late goal proves to be crucial to win Sweden in the group.
Glik was good in the air / Lars Baron / Getty Images
Wojciech Szczesny (GK) – 5/10 – Just made a save all the time and could not do anything about any of Sweden’s goals.
Bartosz Bereszynski (CB) – 5/10 – Good blocks to prevent Isak from squaring over the goal for an impression.
Kamil Glik (CB) – 6/10 – Made a tricky tackle on Isak but that did not stop Forsberg from collecting ball possession and scoring goals. Dominant in the air all the time and won ten flight duels. Also booked.
Jan Bednarek (CB) – 6/10 – The Southampton man made three tackles, most of all players on the pitch.
Zielinski was lively / KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV / Getty Images
Kamil Jozwiak (RWB) – 5/10 – Rounded by Forsberg a little too light for the goal. Not noticeable in an offensive sense and was carried by later.
Grzegorz Krychowiak (CM) – 5/10 – Got a bit of a rash when the game was stretched, his lack of pace in midfield became apparent. Booked and replaced later.
Mateusz Klich (CM) – 5/10 – Could not dictate the pace as he often does in Leeds colors. Lost the ball a few times in central areas.
Tymoteusz Puchacz (LWB) – 5/10 – Quiet first half for the Union Berlin defender. Interrupted at half time when Poland chased the game.
Piotr Zielinski (AM) – 7/10 – Tested Olsen with a good effort from reach. Became more influential as the game continued and got the assistance for Lewandowski’s beauty.
Lewandowski could not take Poland through / Lars Baron / Getty Images
Karol Swiderski (ST) – 6/10 – Started the game forward, finished it on the right back. Took a few shots but both were outside the goal.
Robert Lewandowski (ST) – 8/10 – Hit the bar twice in quick succession from a corner when it looked harder to miss. Made improved with a beauty to half the deficit, curling over Olsen from the corner of Sweden’s box. Finished cooly to level the game at a crucial stage.
Przemyslaw Frankowski – 7/10 – His cross set Lewandowski’s equalizer.
Jakub Swierczok – 5/10
Kacper Kozlowski – 5/10
Przemyslaw Placheta – 5/10
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