There are easy ways to qualify for the World Cup and there are complicated ways. Poland won six qualifiers whereas Sweden won two but it is Sweden, elevated by the magic of Graham Potter, the persistence of Viktor Gyökeres and the noble head of the 11th Baron Lagerbielke who will be going to the World Cup. They have qualified not so much through the back door as up the tree and through the bathroom window, but they will take their place in a group with Tunisia, the Netherlands and Japan.
As the final whistle blew and Sweden’s substitutes and coaching staff surged across the pitch in gleeful celebration, Robert Lewandowski dropped to his haunches on the edge of the penalty area, his face mask dangling loose around his throat. The World Cup has never been a particularly kind tournament for the Poland forward; he has played in just two and scored only twice; at 37, he will surely not get another chance to improve his record.
