Of the three attacking monsters committed to two places for the World Cup in Qatar, only Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski remain.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, he remains at the dock and misses a last opportunity to play a World Cup.
Poland beat Sweden 2-0, the same scoreline as Portugal against North Macedonia.
No major tournament without Ronaldo and the Portuguese: subscribers to major competitions in the 21st century, the 2016 European champions validated without trembling their ticket for the World Cup in Qatar (November 21-December 18) by ousting the North in Porto Macedonians, fallers to the general surprise of Italy in the semi-finals.
Portugal no longer misses a big competition
This is the 12th major international tournament in a row for the Seleçao (Euros and Worlds combined) and the tenth for CR7, which is about to experience its fifth World Cup at the age of 37, a record only reached by four other players in the soccer history.
But since his great rival Lionel Messi (34) will be with Argentina, it was unthinkable that Ronaldo would not stretch their long rivalry a little more during the next World Cup.
At the Dragon stadium, the national team goals record holder (115) did not score but he shone with his activity, delivering a timely assist for Bruno Fernandes, his Manchester United accomplice, who opened the mark (32nd).
Fernandes then doubled the bet (65th) to compose the ticket for Portugal, which will join hat 1 of the draw on Friday in Doha (6:00 p.m.), that of the favorites.
Not satisfied, Ronaldo continued to exert himself at the end of the match, in line with a match punctuated by generous gestures and burning attempts (14th, 40th, 59th, 79th).
"The one who will decide my future is me," said the five-time Ballon d'Or on Monday, when asked about a possible international retirement which is not for now.
Conversely, no miracle for the courageous North Macedonia, which had achieved a memorable feat Thursday against the Italians (1-0).
Too limited, the Macedonian team suffered and bent, but it will retain excellent memories of these dams, a new step taken after its first participation in the Euro won in 2021.
Lewandowski ousts Sweden from 'Ibra'
In Qatar, there will also be the best Fifa player of the year 2021: Robert Lewandowski validated his ticket with Poland by opening the scoring against Sweden (2-0), despite the entry into play at the end of the match. Another footballing monument, Sweden's Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Directly qualified for this play-off final in the European zone after the exclusion of Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, the Poles took the lead thanks to a penalty obtained by Grzegorz Krychowiak.
Wearing an armband in the yellow and blue colors of Ukraine, Lewandowski set off and the Bayern Munich striker did not shake (50th), scoring his 9th goal in 9 games in this qualifying campaign.
Then Piotr Zielinski doubled the bet (72nd), offering Poland a second consecutive participation in the great planetary gathering.
Ibra joins a horde of eliminated stars
It's cruel for "Ibra", coming out of his international retirement to dream of new heights with Sweden.
But nothing went as planned for the center-forward of AC Milan (40 years old), deprived of the Euro in the summer of 2021 due to an injury, and now ousted from the World Cup-2022.
Ibrahimovic thus joins a cohort of stars deprived of this great meeting, such as the Norwegian Erling Haaland, the Egyptian Mohamed Salah or the Italian European champions, all confined in front of their television set next November…
Sport
World Cup 2022: Senegal eliminates Egypt after a crazy penalty shootout
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Poland
Portugal
Sport
World Cup 2022
Cristiano Ronaldo
Robert Lewandowski
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