Euro qualifiers: Ekdal’s Sweden suffer late blow, while Chabot’s Germany clinch win

There was late drama during the international break with some jumping for joy, while others were left feeling deflated as opportunities got away.

Sweden were just moments away from a potentially crucial victory in Stockholm against Spain. Marcus Berg’s opened the scoring in the 50^th minute, but Albin Ekdal, who started the game and was replaced by Gustav Svensson in the 83^rd minute, and his team-mates saw victory snatched away from them when Rodrigo equalised for the visitors in stoppage time. Despite the draw, Sweden remain in the qualifying positions on 15 points, one point ahead of third-placed Romania. A win over group rivals Romania in November would seal the team’s ticket to UEFA EURO 2020.

Julian Chabot, meanwhile, is all smiles, as Germany U21s ran out 2-0 winners in Zenica away to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Kilian 29, Nmecha 79). The defender, who was brought on in the 86^th minute, celebrated alongside his team-mates a second win in as many EURO U21 qualifiers, with the 2021 tournament set to be held in Hungary and Slovenia.