Poland bowed out in the group stage of a major tournament for a second straight time after suffering a 3-2 defeat to Sweden on Wednesday. In the most ironic fashion, the one thing the denied the Poles from glory was a pole.
Only a victory would do for Poland on Matchday 3. The game got off to the worst possible start by conceding one of the fastest goals in Euro history.
¡Gooooooooool de Suecia!
Forsberg saca un zapatazo cruzado que no es atajable para nadie. ¡Se está yendo Lewy de la Euro! #SWE 1-0 #POL#EuroTUDN I #VeranoDeCampeones I #EURO2020¡En vivo!
GRATIS en la app de TUDN y @prendetv
https://t.co/c6KgHlDkau pic.twitter.com/zwr5tlY1XL— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) June 23, 2021
81 - Scored after just 81 seconds, Emil Forsberg's opener for Sweden against Poland is the second-fastest goal ever scored from the start of a European Championship match, after Dmitry Kirichenko for Russia v Greece in 2004 (65 seconds). Quickfire. pic.twitter.com/NTTGBBbnwp
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 23, 2021
A quick response would have been ideal for Poland. The Poles almost had said response in the 17th minute, but an insane game of pinball off the crossbar denied the equalizer. How Robert Lewandowski didn’t score is inconceivable.
Lewandowski Hits Crossbar Vs Sweden
HOW HAS ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI NOT SCORED?! pic.twitter.com/iFMHkPkz57
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 23, 2021
The record holder for most goals in a single Bundesliga season had perhaps the second-biggest fail on the day. Slovakia’s Martin Dubravka stole that award.
Lewandowski would eventually find the back of the Swedish net in the second half, but not before Emil Forsberg smashed in his third goal of Euro 2020.
¡Gooooooooooool de Suecia!
Doblete de Forsberg que deja tendido a Polonia. ¡Adiós Lewy de la Euro! #SWE 2-0 #POL#EuroTUDN I #VeranoDeCampeones I #EURO2020¡En vivo!
GRATIS en la app de TUDN y @prendetv
https://t.co/c6KgHlDkau pic.twitter.com/pxQaqpRlzb— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) June 23, 2021
Forsberg scored all of Sweden’s goals in the tournament to this point. The game looked to be heading in the direction of a Swedish sweep, but then Lewandowski made things interesting. Goals from Poland’s star man in the 61st and 84th minute made for some extremely nervy final minutes.
The Bayern striker’s first goal was a worldie.
LEWANDOWSKI GOLAZZZZZOOO pic.twitter.com/YjaPNilU4C
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 23, 2021
LIFE FOR POLAND
LEWANDOWSKI PUTTING THE TEAM ON HIS BACK!!! pic.twitter.com/Q0Sq1IIQY5— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 23, 2021
The Poles threw all of Poland at the Swedish defense in the game’s final chapter. The Swedes had shutout Spain and Slovakia in the two games before and stepped up big in stoppage time to halt the Polish advances.
Sweden put the nail in the Polish coffin in the 94th minute to end an exhilarating game.
¡Goooooooooooool de Suecia!
Se acabó el sueño. ¡Polonia está eliminado de la Euro 2020! #SWE 3-2 #POL#EuroTUDN I #VeranoDeCampeones I #EURO2020¡En vivo!
GRATIS en la app de TUDN y @prendetv
https://t.co/c6KgHlDkau pic.twitter.com/sfc35gjUrB— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) June 23, 2021
Sweden finished top of the group and will potentially play Ukraine in the Round of 16. Poland finished in the basement of its group, just like it did in the 2018 World Cup.
