Poland vs Sweden: World Cup finals, kick-off time, predicted line-up | European qualifiers
Poland and Sweden meet in the playoff final of the FIFA World Cup Path B on Tuesday, March 29.
The winner will book one of three remaining places at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, with the World Cup draw taking place on Friday 1 April.
Where to watch Poland vs Sweden on TV
Fans can find their local broadcast partners here.
How did the team get here?
Second to England in Group I, Poland got a goodbye to the playoffs when their opponent, Russia, was suspended from international competition. Sweden finished behind Spain in Group B and survived a test of endurance in the semi-finals, and substitute Robin Quaison scored the only goal in extra time when they beat the Czech Republic, with suspended Zlatan Ibrahimović watching.
Any lineups
Poland: Szczęsny; Bielik, Glik, Bednarek; Cash, Krychowiak, Moder, Zieliński, Puchacz; Milik, Lewandowski
Sweden: Olsen; Krafth, Lindelöf, Danielson, Augustinsson; Claesson, K. Olsson, Ekdal, Forsberg; Kulusevski, Isaac
Expert predictions
Piotr Kozmiński, Polish reporter
Poland is at home and playing in front of a 54,000, sold-out audience, but many of their compatriots do not consider the whites and reds to be favorites. Poland have rarely enjoyed playing against Sweden and have lost the team’s last six meetings, including a 3-2 loss at UEFA EURO 2020. Robert Lewandowski scored two goals in that match and is in good shape. Rested ahead of the friendly against Scotland, he was able to help break the spell.
Sujay Dutt, Sweden Reporter
Poland has a home advantage, but Sweden comes to the match in a strong mood after overcoming a tough Czech team in the semifinals. Extra time was perhaps exactly what several Sweden players needed, as they lacked match condition. Sweden took over Poland in UEFA EURO 2020 last summer, and should the goals prove difficult to achieve, they have a not so secret weapon in Zlatan Ibrahimović.
World Cup pedigree
Poland
Closing tournaments: 8 (1938, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 2002, 2006, 2018)
Best: third place (1974, 1982)
Sweden
Closing tournaments: 12 (1934, 1938, 1950, 1958, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1990, 1994, 2002, 2006, 2018)
Best: second (1958)
What the coaches say
Czesław Michniewicz, Poland coach: “We have studied Sweden in depth. We also had our people on their match against the Czech Republic. We know what we can expect from them. They are a very good, very well organized team, no doubt about it. But we will have “our plan for this match. Provided he is fit, Wojciech Szczęsny will be in goal for us.”
Janne Andersson, Sweden coach: “I have no idea about a show like [the semi-final one against the Czech Republic] would suffice [against Poland]. We will not play the same way, because Poland plays differently. We have [a few] days to recover now. We will see what it looks like, who is fully fit and healthy, when we come to Tuesday. “