Gyökeres' individual skill was the big difference. Now Poland awaits at Strawberry Arena on Tuesday, in the match for a place in the playoffs in North America this summer
It was up to him, Swedish football's brightest star at the moment, and he delivered. But it was more than that that stood out. A Swedish national team that played and behaved as a Swedish national team should. One for all, all for one, with a clarity, determination and coherence that seemed self-evident.
Hit early
Gyökeres struck in the sixth minute, in a way the national team has certainly not spoiled all its supporters with in recent years. It offered all the appetizing ingredients at once: speed, quick thinking, movement, precision and efficiency. Anthony Elanga released the ball deep to Benjamin Nygren, whose diagonal pass was met by Gyökeres at the far post.
Gyökeres, extremely strong in the duel game, had previously won two long balls that held the team together offensively. The type of passes he rarely gets in his club team, Arsenal.
With that goal at their back, captain Graham Potter's disciplined eleven could play on the result and primarily make sure not to get carried away defensively.
Sweden led the game. Resolutely, but sometimes too eager and careless. This gave Swedish counterattacks, like when Gabriel Gudmundsson powerfully broke forward along the left wing. The shot slipped past the post.
Isak Hien was forced off at the end of the first half. The expression on his face did not bode well as the centre-back limped off and was replaced by Carl Starfelt. The Celta Vigo player has had an excellent season, and it continued at the Estadi Ciutat de Valencia.
Left the arena
Things are changing fast. Kristoffer Nordfeldt's first difficult intervention was immediately followed by the moment that took Sweden to Tuesday's final at Strawberry Arena.
The ball bounced over centre-back Illya Zabarnyj. Gyökeres read the situation and angled it in for 2–0.
The success was completed in the 73rd minute. Gyökeres was brought down and converted the penalty to make it 3–0.
Then the Swedish fans sang "You old, you free." The Ukrainians began to leave the stadium in Valencia. Those who remained cheered for Matvij Ponomarenko's goal in the final stages.