Joy for Anthony Elanga and Sweden at the Strawberry Arena.
Tuesday night seeing them progress to the summer’s world cup finals in a truly dramatic play-off final.
Anthony Elanga firing home a brilliant 19th minute opening goal (watch it below) to set them on their way.
Poland equalising, Sweden making it 2-1, only for Poland to once again level.
On 69 minutes Anthony Elanga making way for Bergvall and the match looking destined for extra-time.
Then with two minutes of normal time remaining, the otherwise anonymous Gyokeres with a tap in to send Sweden to the world cup finals this summer.
This has been an astonishing story and a tale of how strange world cup qualifying can be these days.
Sandro Tonali and Italy won six of their group qualifiers and won’t be going to the world cup finals, whilst Anthony Elanga and Sweden didn’t win a single one of their group qualifiers but will be at this summer’s tournament! (My thanks to John for this gem of a stat)
Italy won six of eight group games but finished second due to Norway winning all eight, meaning they went into the play-offs but lost to Bosnia-Herzegovina on penalties last night (details below).
Meanwhile, Sweden finished rock bottom of their qualifying group behind Switzerland, Kosovo and Slovenia, only two draws and two points. However…with this daft Nations League safety net that exists now for some countries, Sweden’s past results in that competition gave them a world cup play-off place!
Former Newcastle United striker Jon Dahl Tomasson lost his job once Sweden failed to qualify from their world cup group, Graham Potter getting the Sweden job on 20 October 2025, losing 4-1 to Switzerland, then drawing at home against Slovenia in their final two group matches.
Then Potter winning his next two Sweden matches to take them past Ukraine (3-1) in the play-off semi-final and now 3-2 against Poland in the all or nothing final play-off.
Really pleased for Anthony Elanga, the United winger now heading to the finals.
Not so pleased that Alexander Isak, having totally sabotaged Sweden’s qualifying campaign when going on strike at Newcastle United, is now set to recover in time to play at this summer’s world cup finals.
Funny old game.
1-0 Sweden.
ANTHONY ELANGA BEATS THE GOALKEEPER WITH A PRECISION SHOT THAT BOUNCES IN OFF THE BAR! WHAT A STRIKE!pic.twitter.com/7y0W3eWS5p
— 1337x (@1337xh0x) March 31, 2026
This is the March 2026 international schedule for Newcastle United players:
Wednesday 25 March
Bermuda 0 DR Congo 2 (Friendly)
Yoane Wissa scoring a 51st minute penalty, as DR Congo warm up for their all or nothing World Cup play-off match.
Thursday 26 March
Italy 2 Northern Ireland 0
A brilliant man of the match performance from Sandro Tonali, as he scored a quality volley to put Italy ahead in this World Cup play-off semi-final, then getting an assist for Moise Kean as his goal made sure of progress to a World Cup play-off final next Tuesday against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Denmark 4 North Macedonia 0
William Osula an unused sub as the Danes progress to the World Cup play-off finals, set to face Czech Republic on Tuesday.
Ukraine 1 Sweden 3
Anthony Elanga subbed off in added time having helped Sweden progress to the World Cup play-off finals, they will face Poland on Tuesday.
Friday 27 March
England 1 Uruguay 1
Tino Livramento one of only two outfield players to play the full game he did okay. Aaron Ramsdale an unused sub.
Lewis Hall got the last 20 minutes and did okay, like Tino. Whilst Harvey Barnes also got 20 minutes and was pretty much anonymous, apart from cheated out of his first England goal when he volleyed home a poor Palmer corner, only for Ben White to score instead when tapping it in from a few inches out.
Switzerland 3 Germany 4
Nick Woltemade came on after 63 minutes when Switzerland led 3-2, helping Germany to a 4-3 win. Big Nick playing well when replacing Kai Havertz who had been so poor. Wirtz man of the match though with two assists and two goals. Malick Thiaw an unused sub but not a bad night for him either, as Germany’s central defenders had an atrocious night. The Newcastle pair set to get their chance to start on Monday against Ghana.
Monday 30 March
Germany 2 Ghana 1
Nick Woltemade started in this latest win for Germany. The Newcastle United striker unlucky to see one effort come back off the woodwork, whilst a brilliant flick by Big Nick to set Wirtz up for a ‘goal’ was ruled out for a dubious offside. Germany dominated and should have won at a canter but in the end a penalty from Havertz and a late goal from Undav got the win. Nick Woltemade was subbed off on 78 minutes whilst Malick Thiaw was an unused sub.
Tuesday 31 March
Bosnia-Herzegovina 1 Italy 1 AET (Bosnia-Herzegovina win 4-1 on penalties)
This is now three world cup finals in a row that Italy have failed to qualify for. Italy taking the lead on 15 minutes in this play-off but the game all changed on 41 minutes when Bastoni was red carded. Italy held out until 79 minutes with ten men before conceding, then they managed the rest of the 90 minutes plus another half hour extra-time to take it to penalties. Sandro Tonali put in an epic shift in midfield, as Italy played for 80+ minutes a man down. Then the Newcastle United star the only one to convert his penalty in the shootout, the hosts scoring all of their four whilst Tonali’s teammates failed.
Sweden 3 Poland 2
A brilliant strike from Anthony Elanga set Sweden on their way in this world cup final play-off. Poland equalising, Sweden taking the lead again, Poland equalising once more. Then with two minutes of normal time remaining, Gyokeres getting an easy chance to seal it. Anthony Elanga had been subbed off with the score at 2-2 in the 69th minute and now he and his international teammates are on their way to the summer’s world cup finals.