Pole star Lew sunk by a touch of Claess
EVEN the sheer genius of Robert Lewandowski could not send Poland into the knockout stages.
But he came close with two moments of pure class that gave this enthralling tie a thrilling finale. Lewandowski dragged his nation back within touching distance of clawing their way out of Group E. But in the agonising final seconds they were denied by a dramatic goal from Sweden sub Viktor Claesson.
And if that was rough justice on the best striker in Europe, it at least gave Emil Forsberg his glory after two goals that almost outshone even the great Lewandowski.
It gave Janne Andersson’s battling team not only a pulsating win but top place in the group above Spain.
And the coach said: “Emil fights and makes the difference for us. He has shown the ability to step up to be the deciding factor.
“My team were warriors, they fought for 90 minutes and to do that against such a good Poland side, with Lewandowski playing like that, made me proud.”
It was Forsberg’s two goals that swung the game, a strike after just a minute and 22 seconds when he won two challenges and fired into the corner and then a stunning 59th-minute finish after a mazy run from substitute Dejan Kulusevski.
But Lewandowski brought Poland back with a run from halfway to fire into the top corner in the 60th minute and, with seven minutes left, a trademark turn and finish.
Poland had chances in a breathless finale to win and qualify, but somehow the Swedes survived – and then Claesson struck deftly on the break to put his side on top of the group.
SWEDEN (4-3-3): Olsen 7; Lustig 6 (Krafth 68, 6), Lindelof 6, Danielson 5, Augustinsson 6; Larsson 6, Olson 6, Ekdal 6; Forsberg 9 (Claesson 77), Isak 7 (Berg 68, 5), Quaison 6 (Kulusevski 55, 7)
POLAND (3-4-1-2): Szczesny 6; Beresynski 6, Glik 6, Bednarek 7; Jozwiak 6 (Swierczok 61,6) Krychowiak 6 (Placheta 78), Puchacz 5 (Frankowski 46, 7), Klich 6 (Kozlowski 73); Zielinski 7; Swiderski 7, LEWANDOWSKI 9.
REFEREE: Michael Oliver (England) 7.