Lewa making it through to the World Cup? Not Swede at all

The last time the two sides met, Robert Lewandowski stepped up again with a remarkable brace in the last group stage fixture at the EURO 2020. However, even that wasn't enough for at least a consolating draw, let alone a sought-after victory for the Poles. Sweden won 3-2 thanks to a stoppage-time Viktor Claesson's winner, while Lewa and co. had to pack their bags and return home as the bottom side with a single point in three games.

Tonight, the stakes are even higher, with a loser of the decider failing to reach the World Cup.

In the semifinal, the Swedes topped the Czech Republic but only after overtime and are heading into the showdown with tons of confidence. They're led by one of the rising stars of European football, Alexander Isak, who's yet to make a major statement, and this upcoming World Cup could serve him as a perfect stage for it.

Unlike him, veteran Lewandowski will put on another spectacle of his to book himself a ticket for his probably last WC since he's 33 and will be 37 by the time the next WC kicks off.

Deserter: Paulo Sousa leaves Poland job to be Flamengo's new coach, Lewa shocked

Unlike the Scandinavians, who had to fight for their place in the ultimate do-or-die encounter, the Poles reached this stage without sweating at all. Their semifinal against Russia was cancelled for political issues, and their archrivals were expelled without any chance for complaint.

One will say that this injustice will hit them (Poland, of course) back in the face sooner or later. So who knows, maybe it will be tonight's match at the Silesian Stadium in Chorzow as the place of Lewa's last, tearful international cap? We'll see...

WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS - EUROPE

Tuesday

21.45: (1.23) Portugal (7.00) North Macedonia (14.0)

21.45: (2.60) Poland (3.00) Sweden (3.25)

Scotland - Ukraine POSTPONED