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Struggling Sweden clinch World Cup playoff spot without even playing

Sweden's Emil Holm and Switzerland's Ricardo Rodriguez Araya battle for the ball in a previous World Cup qualifier
Sweden's Emil Holm and Switzerland's Ricardo Rodriguez Araya battle for the ball in a previous World Cup qualifierČTK / imago sportfotodienst / Peter Sonander/SPP

Despite having only recorded one point in their World Cup qualifying group, Sweden secured a place in the World Cup playoffs on Friday night without even playing.

Sweden, despite currently being last in their World Cup qualifying group, have now secured a playoff spot for the World Cup thanks to their Nations League C group victory. 

The four best Nations League group winners who do not finish in the top two in the World Cup qualifying group will receive a playoff ticket.

The results in the other groups mean that Sweden's place is now guaranteed after Croatia's group victory on Friday night, as well as Germany's win in Luxembourg, which means that Germany and the Czech Republic will at least finish second in their respective groups. 

There is still a small chance that Sweden can finish second in their World Cup qualifying group and thus get a better seeding than through the Nations League place.

Sweden have otherwise had a dismal World Cup qualifying campaign, where they have lost to unsung Kosovo on two occasions and have only one point to show for four matches. This led to the dismissal of Jon Dahl Tomasson, who was replaced by Graham Potter.