Group B is one of the most exciting in World Cup qualification. Because top favorite Spain is only second behind Sweden. But on Thursday the surprise team made a mistake.
Despite the return of soccer star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the Swedish national team suffered a bitter defeat in the fight for the direct ticket to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The Scandinavians were surprisingly defeated by outsiders Georgia in Group B 0: 2 (0: 0) and are at the top of the table with 15 points two points ahead of ex-world champions Spain.
But the Iberians could overtake Greece on Thursday evening with a victory and then go into the decisive direct duel for group victory in Seville on Sunday.
Ibrahimovic with insert number 119
Chwitscha Kwarazchelia from Rubin Kazan became the hero of the Georgians with his brace (61st / 78th), who had only celebrated one victory in the current qualifying round.
The 40-year-old Ibrahimovic, who wore the national jersey for the first time since March, returned to the Blagult team in the spring after five years, after which he was absent from the 2021 European Championship due to injury. First he suffered a knee injury, then an Achilles tendon irritation prevented his 119th assignment for his country.
.
/image%2F1420000%2F20240504%2Fob_3a7109_img-9362.jpeg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1)