GEORGIA HIT SWEDE SPOT IN DECIDERS

SPAIN face a final game shootout with SWEDEN on Sunday in the battle to earn an automatic spot for the World Cup finals.

Sweden’s hopes of qualifying directly from Group B suffered a big blow as they slumped to a shock 2-0 defeat away to GEORGIA.

And hours later, Spain overtook them at the top, beating GREECE 1-0 thanks to a penalty from Pablo Sarabia (above) as Luis Enrique’s men look to pip the Swedes and avoid the play-offs.

A double from Georgia’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (below, celebrating) had stunned sloppy Sweden.

Not even the presence of record scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who returned to the Sweden side after a knee injury kept him out of Euro 2020, could save them from an embarrassing defeat – and a winner-takesall-clash with Spain.

Veteran AC Milan striker

Ibrahimovic, 40, said: “We should win the game as we’re much better than them, no doubt about it.”

Sweden coach Janne Andersson, who led his side to a dour scoreless draw against Spain at Euro 2020 in June, rued their missed opportunities.

He said: “It’s an old truth in football – if you don’t score from your chances, sooner or later your opponent will get one.

“They got it and they took it, it bounced their way, this was one of those days.”

Already qualified GERMANY thumped 10-man minnows LIECHTENSTEIN 9-0, with Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan among the scorers.

The battle for second spot in Group J will go down to the wire between NORTH MACEDONIA and ROMANIA.

In Group H RUSSIA sunk CYPRUS 6-0, and CROATIA hammered MALTA 7-1, with them already confirmed as the top two teams. But the group’s all-important order will be decided when they square off on Sunday.