Robert Lewandowski vs Zlatan Ibrahimovic can be tasty when Sweden star Emil Forsberg says “it would be fantastic to give Poland another slap in the face” before the World Cup settlement
A winner takes everything if a place in the World Cup needs no extra taste.
But when it comes to Poland and Sweden, there is plenty of extra spice between the two nations.
AC Milan’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic meets a striker who dares to be better than Zlatan – and can deny him an international tail song in Qatar 2022.
And that man, Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski, the deadliest forward in the match right now, also finds his place on world football’s biggest stage in the risk zone.
Both players are comfortably the greatest in their nation’s history, but one will be forced to sit at home and watch the other this winter.
Of their total of 136 international goals (74 for Lewandowski and 62 for Ibrahimovic) would feel more important than a winner tonight.
At the age of 40, even a machine like Ibrahimovic would fear that this is his last chance to play in a World Cup, while 33-year-old Lewandowski will also be on time.
But after all, it may be comments from Emil Forsberg that give the biggest advantage before tonight’s clash.
The last time these two nations met, it was an exciting 3-2 victory for Sweden at the European Championships 2020 last summer, which dumped Poland in the group stage.
When we reflected on that day, the Swedish midfielder Forsberg, who made the winner, said: “We won last summer, so they (Poland) will no doubt be hungry for revenge.
“It would be great to give them another slap in the face.”
Another player who can have a big role to play is Manchester United’s and Sweden’s defender Victor Lindelof.
After playing with Ibrahimovic for club and country, he hopes his experience of training against a bruised center-forward will come in handy on Tuesday night.
Speaking of Lewandowski, Lindelof said FIFA.com: “What can I say? He’s a great player.
“He’s been performing at the highest level for a number of years now.
“The amount of goals he scores and the chances he creates, he is a top player. I have enormous respect and admiration for him.
“It’s going to be a really tough fight, but these are the challenges you’re most looking forward to. It’s going to be fun.”
Ibrahimovic, who continues to score for Serie A leader Milan, is expected to join after overcoming an injury, and Lindelof hopes the talisman can inspire his nation again.
United’s midfielder added: “He is the greatest player in the history of the sport in Sweden. He means so, so much to Swedish football and the public as well.
“He’s been at the highest level for so many years now and it’s just remarkable how he can still perform at his age. I have tremendous respect for how he has taken care of his body and mind as well. He’s a great athlete with a fantastic mentality. ”
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