Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres scored a late winner to send Sweden to the World Cup with a 3-2 win over Poland on Tuesday night.
The 27-year-old forward, who has had a mixed first season in north London, hit a hat-trick against Ukraine to send the Swedes to the play-off final and on Tuesday night struck in the 88th minute in Stockholm.
It was a big win for former Chelsea, Brighton and West Ham manager Graham Potter, who took the Sweden job on a short-term basis in October with the remit to kickstart their faltering campaign and in February signed a permanent deal to 2030.
His side will now face Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia in their World Cup group.
Turkey won in Kosovo to secure their spot at the tournament this summer – ending a 24-year wait to qualify for the World Cup.
Kerem Akturkoglu’s second-half goal was the difference between the sides, and United States, Paraguay and Australia await the Turks this summer.
Viktor Gyokeres fired Sweden into the World Cup this summer with a 3-2 win over Poland
Gyokeres scored in the 88th minute with this close-range finish to send his country through
Turkey, ranked 25th in the world, had fallen short in qualifying campaigns over the past two decades and arrived under pressure to deliver, with coach Vincenzo Montella overseeing a squad blending emerging talents and experienced internationals.
For Kosovo, ranked 79th and playing in front of a sold-out crowd, the defeat brought an end to a remarkable run that had taken them to the brink of a historic debut at a major tournament, less than a decade after joining FIFA and UEFA.
Like Turkey, Czechia ended a two-decade wait to qualify for a World Cup after beating Denmark on penalties.
The match ended 2-2 after extra time but Czechia prevailed 3-1 on penalties – with Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund, currently on loan at Napoli, among those to miss for the Danes.
The other European World Cup play-off final saw four-time winners Italy fail to qualify after losing on penalties to Bosnia.
