Euro friendlies: live shocks
International friendly action is wild — Sweden led Poland 3-2, Czech Republic was 1-1 with Denmark, Kosovo trailed Turkey 0-1, and Bosnia were drawing Italy 1-1 with about 15 minutes left in one live update. These midweek friendlies are offering late-season form checks and surprise results ahead of summer tournaments. (x.com) (x.com).
Viktor Gyökeres struck in the 88th minute to complete Sweden’s 3-2 win over Poland and send the Swedes into the 2026 World Cup after goals from Anthony Elanga and Gustaf Lagerbielke earlier in the match (espn.com: ). The Czech Republic and Denmark finished 2-2 after extra time in Prague before Czechia won the penalty shootout 3-1; Pavel Šulc opened in the 3rd minute, Joachim Andersen levelled for Denmark in the 72nd, Ladislav Krejčí equalised in extra time, and Matěj Kovář produced key saves in the shootout as Czechia booked a World Cup place for the first time since 2006 (espn.com: ) (fifa.com: ). Kerem Aktürkoğlu’s 53rd-minute finish — assisted by Orkun Kökçü — was the lone goal as Türkiye beat Kosovo 1-0 in Pristina, ending Turkey’s 24-year absence from the World Cup and sealing the play-off winner spot that puts them into Group D alongside the United States, Paraguay and Australia (uefa.com: ) (espn.com: ). Bosnia and Herzegovina drew 1-1 with Italy after extra time — Moise Kean put Italy ahead before Alessandro Bastoni was sent off in the 41st minute and Haris Tabaković equalised in the 79th — and Bosnia won the penalty shootout 4-1 with Esmir Bajraktarević converting the decisive spot kick to send Bosnia to only their second World Cup finals (uefa.com: ) (espn.com: ). With those results the four European play-off winners completing the 48‑team field are Sweden, Czechia, Türkiye and Bosnia and Herzegovina; the teams slot into the group draw as Czechia in Group A (with Mexico, South Africa and South Korea), Bosnia in Group B (with Canada, Qatar and Switzerland), Türkiye in Group D (with USA, Paraguay and Australia) and Sweden in Group F (with Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia). (fifa.com final draw coverage / aljazeera.com: ).
