Poor clearance from France captain and goalkeeper Lloris sees Toivonen score from the half-way line to help Sweden snatch a dramatic win
France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris reacts at the end of the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifier against Sweden in Solna on Friday. Pic/AFP
France complicated their task of ensuring automatic qualification to next year's World Cup in Russia after falling to a dramatic 2-1 defeat in Sweden on Saturday.
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Sweden snatched victory with an Ola Toivonen goal from the half-way line in extra time after a poor clearance from France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. The freak goal sent the massed ranks of yellow clad fans in Stockholm into a wild frenzy, but more importantly with four games to go it sent Sweden top of Group A, level on 13 points with France.
Only the winners of each group are guaranteed a place at next year's finals in Russia, with the eight best second-placed sides competing in the play offs. The French will now play a crucial tie on August 31 against the Netherlands, who remain in the running after thrashing Luxembourg 5-0.
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring against Latvia in Riga on Friday. Pic/AFP
'Catastrophic scenario'
"It was a catastrophic scenario," said coach Didier Deschamps, a World Cup winner in 1998 as a player with France.
"I'm not going to heap blame on Hugo, he has often been decisive for us, but it cost us the game against Sweden."
The coach added, "the draw was not the ideal result but would have been a good point, which would have allowed us to keep Sweden behind."
Advocaat start with a win
Veterans Arjen Robben (21) and Wesley Sneijder (34) laid the groundwork for a Dutch victory in coach Dick Advocaat's first game in charge. In the second half Georginio Wijnaldum (62) and Quincy Promes (70) scored with Vincent Janssen, adding a penalty six minutes from time.
Advocaat, who started his third stint as Oranje coach this week, was also confident. "Of course we are capable of winning in France, the players will be ready, I have a good feeling," he said.
Ronaldo show
In Group B, Switzerland remain top after beating the Faroe Islands 2-0 and are three points ahead of Portugal, the reigning European champions, who beat Latvia 3-0 thanks to another Ronaldo goal-scoring display. The Real Madrid star scored two goals in the 41st and 63rd minute.
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