With goals from Anthony Elanga, Ragbilt, and Dzekereš, Sweden defeated Poland 3-2 in the European qualifying play-off final for the 2026 World Cup, securing their place in the tournament. Graham Porter expressed his immense pride in the team and emphasized the importance of building on a strong sense of unity.

In the 19th minute, Yassin Ayari passed the ball back from the penalty area, and Anthony Elanga unleashed a powerful shot that struck the post and bounced into the net, giving Sweden a 1-0 lead. In the 33rd minute, Zielinski passed the ball from the center circle, and Zalewski received it before curling a shot into the net, leveling the score at 1-1 for Poland.

In the 44th minute, Benjamin Nigren took a free kick, and Ragbilk headed the ball into the net, giving Sweden a 2-1 lead over Poland. In the 55th minute of the second half, Kaminski headed the ball across, and Žilwidlski received a pass from Zalewski and slotted it home, leveling the score at 2-2 for Poland.

In the 88th minute, Lucas Belivall's long-range shot was blocked by Polish goalkeeper Grabara. Zenelli immediately fired a shot, but the ball hit the post. Then, Dzekereis pushed the ball into the net in the ensuing scramble, giving Sweden a 3-2 lead.

In the end, Sweden defeated Poland 3-2 at home and successfully advanced to the World Cup.

Sweden's head coach Graham Porte said, "It was an incredible day, a huge honor to be a part of it, and an extraordinary experience. I'm really happy for the team. It was a tough game, but I'm incredibly proud of the team. It was also a dramatic game, and it was difficult to control my emotions and understand the importance of the match."

"The most important thing is to unite the team. Although there are indeed talented players in this team, on the international stage, the talent of a single player is not enough."

Graham Porter emphasized, "We have to help the team be more cohesive and build on that. We certainly have players who can create threats and try to do that. But the most important thing is the team, including how we fight for each other on the court."

Speaking about Dzekereš, who scored the winning goal for Sweden, Graham Porter said, "I felt like I was out of my body. I watched the goal and then saw the substitutes rushing onto the pitch. I was thinking, am I really here? It's the kind of moment I'll be grateful for and remember for the rest of my life."

In addition, Swedish striker Boris Dzekereš, who plays for Premier League giants Arsenal, said, "It's hard to describe how we were able to advance at home. We persevered until the very end, which is why we made it to the World Cup."

“Whether you get the ball often or not, you have to stay involved and focused. Especially in the final stages of the game, when we had some semi-threatening opportunities, that’s what I did.”

Image source: Internet