Lewandowski, Ibrahimovic seek World Cup place as Poland, Sweden clash

(COMBO) This combination of pictures created on March 28, 2022 shows on March 23, 2016 Poland’s Robert Lewandowski playing the ball during the international friendly football match against Serbia in Poznan and on June 22, 2016 Sweden’s forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic plays the ball during the Euro 2016 group E football match between Sweden and Belgium at the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice. – Either Robert Lewandowski or Zlatan Ibrahimovic will miss out on the chance to play at the 2022 World Cup when Poland and Sweden clash in March 29, 2022 play-off. (Photo by JANEK SKARZYNSKI and Valery HACHE / AFP)

Either Robert Lewandowski or Zlatan Ibrahimovic will miss out on the chance to play at the 2022 World Cup when Poland and Sweden clash in Tuesday’s play-off.

The winners in Chorzow will go into Friday’s draw for the World Cup group stage.

It could be the final chance to play at a World Cup for Swedish striker Ibrahimovic, who will be 41, and Poland’s Lewandowski, who will be 34, when the finals kick off in Qatar this November.

“A World Cup without Zlatan is not a World Cup,” said Ibrahimovic.

The veteran has endured an injury-blighted season and last played a full 90 minutes for his club AC Milan in January.

Sweden coach Janne Andersson said Monday that Ibrahimovic “is a weapon for us” as a substitute, but “can’t play the whole game”.

In contrast, Bayern Munich’s Lewandowski is in stellar form having scored 50 goals for club and country this season.

The Poland captain, a back-to-back winner of FIFA’s best men’s player award, took part in training Sunday after suffering a knee knock last week and is set to start in Chorzow.

There will be an element of seeking revenge for hosts Poland, who lost 3-2 to Sweden in their final Euro 2020 group