Kosovo and Poland on the ground
©IMAGO
German coach Franco Foda and Robert Lewandowski will miss this summer’s World Cup. Foda and outsider Kosovo lost 0-1 (0-0) against Turkey in the evening and narrowly missed out on their sensational first participation. Also not represented in America is Lewandowski, whose Poland lost 2:3 (1:2) to the Swedes. In the playoffs, the Turks and the Swedes made it to the XXL tournament, which takes place from June 11th to July 19th in the USA, Mexico and Canada. For the first time, 48 nations will take part.
This means that there are 44 participants for the tournament from June 11th to July 19th in the USA, Mexico and Canada. The games between the Czech Republic and Denmark and Bosnia-Herzegovina against Italy went into extra time. Two more places after the four European duels will be played in the intercontinental playoffs in Mexico. Jamaica will face the Democratic Republic of Congo late on Tuesday evening (11 p.m.), Iraq will face Bolivia on Wednesday morning (5 a.m./DAZN).
Foda and the Kosovars created numerous chances in a heated and emotional game, but were not rewarded for their great effort five days after the spectacular 4-3 win in Slovakia. The team with Hoffenheim’s striker Fisnik Asllani lost to Turkey after a goal from Kerem Aktürkoglu (53′). This is Turkey’s third World Cup participation after 1954 and 2002. In Group D, in addition to hosts USA, we also face Australia and Paraguay.
In the most spectacular game of the evening, Sweden prevailed thanks to goals from Anthony Elanga (20th), Gustaf Lagerbielke (44th) and Viktor Gyökeres (88th). The goals from Nicola Zalewski (33rd) and Karol Świderski (55th) were not enough for Poland. The 37-year-old Lewandowski has potentially lost his last chance to take part in the World Cup. Gyökeres had already scored three goals in the semi-final. The Swedes are in World Cup Group F against the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia. Four years ago there was already a playoff duel between the Swedes and the Poles – back then, Lewandowski and Co. prevailed.
