Lewandowski embraces Swiderski, who scored the winning goal. Photo: AFP
Poland, Argentina’s third rival at the Qatar 2022 World Cup, closed their performance in the group stage of the European League of Nations yesterday with a 1-0 win at Wales in Cardiff. The team led by Czeslaw Michniewicz restored the image left last Thursday in Warsaw in the 2-0 defeat to the Netherlands with a success that was supported by the solitary conquest obtained by Karol Swiderski (Charlotte FC, USA), in the 12th minute of the second period after a great assist from Robert Lewandowski.
The Polish representative thus concluded its participation in zone A4, with 7 points, in third place, with a balance of 2 wins, 1 tie and 3 losses. Wales finished with only one unit and relegated to the second level. The Netherlands, who beat Belgium 1-0 yesterday, finished first in the group and qualified for the final home run, with 16 units. It was the last round of matches for the World Cup qualifiers before the tournament prelude in Qatar, which begins on November 20. The Dutch are in Group A along with Qatar, Ecuador and Senegal.
Under the leadership of Luka Modric, Croatia won Group A1 and also entered the finals by beating Austria 3-1 as a guest, relegated to the second division of the tournament. France, reigning world and Nations League champions, lost 2-0 in Denmark but avoided losing the category thanks to the defeat against Austria.
The Croatians took the lead after six minutes in Vienna when Luka Modric appeared alone inside the area and finished with a cutlass. Austria equalized three minutes later with a header from midfielder Christoph Baumgartner, but goals from striker Marko Livaja and central defender Dejan Lovren marked the win for Croatia, who were dragged into a group that includes Belgium , Canada and Morocco at the World Cup. It could be the last national tournament for Modric. The 37-year-old midfielder is of an excellent level.
Denmark finished second on 12 points, one behind Croatia, after beating a decimated France 2-0 at home. Striker Kasper Dolberg gave the Danes the lead in the 34th minute and midfielder Andreas Skov Olsen scored 2-0 after the inexperienced French defense got caught defending a corner kick. France improved in the second half, but their star Kylian Mbappé missed one-on-one with goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. The Bleus were third, a point above Austria. The French and Danes will meet again in Qatar in a group completed by Tunisia and Australia.
Today the third classified in the final phase will be defined with the duels of zone A3. Everything will be defined between Hungary (10 points) and Italy (8) who will play from 15:45 (ESPN) in Budapest. In the other duel of the group, the relegated England will host Germany, with no possibility of fighting for anything
Source: Clarin
