In a night of high drama and seismic shocks across European football, Sweden emerged victorious from a five-goal thriller against Italy, thanks to a moment of pure genius from Alexander Isak.
The Real Sociedad striker delivered a devastating blow to Italian hopes, curling home an exquisite 87th-minute winner to seal a monumental 3-2 victory for the Swedes in a pulsating Group B encounter.
A Rollercoaster Encounter in Stockholm
The match was a classic from the outset, with both sides trading blows in a display of attacking football. Sweden drew first blood, but the Azzurri responded with characteristic resilience, pulling level before half-time.
The second half continued at a frenetic pace. Sweden regained the lead, only for Italy to claw their way back into contention with a well-worked equaliser, setting the stage for a grandstand finish.
Just as the match seemed destined for a draw, Isak seized the moment. Picking up the ball on the edge of the area, he created a yard of space and unleashed a perfect, curling effort that left Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma rooted to the spot, sending the home crowd in Stockholm into raptures.
Group B Turned Upside Down
This result sends shockwaves through the qualification group. Italy's defeat is a significant setback in their quest to automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup, leaving them with a mountain to climb in their remaining fixtures.
The drama didn't end there. In a result that sent even greater tremors through the football world, Group B's underdogs, Israel, pulled off a stunning 2-1 victory over a lacklustre England side. This astonishing double upset has thrown the group wide open, completely reshaping the predicted qualifying narrative.
What This Means for the Teams
For Sweden: This victory, powered by their talismanic striker Isak, provides a massive injection of confidence and firmly re-establishes them as serious contenders for top spot in the group.
For Italy: The defeat is a crushing blow. The Azzurri now face immense pressure to win their games in hand and must navigate a tricky path to avoid the playoffs.
For England: The loss to Israel, compounded by Sweden's win, represents a catastrophic night for Gareth Southgate's side, raising serious questions about their campaign and leaving them with no margin for error.
This remarkable evening of football has set the stage for a thrilling conclusion to World Cup qualifying in Group B, where nothing can be taken for granted.
