A stunning double from captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave Sweden a 2-2 draw away to Denmark as they qualified for Euro 2016 on Tuesday by winning 4-3 on aggregate against their Scandinavian rivals.
Sweden's captain has carried his side virtually single-handedly to the finals next year in France, scoring eight times in eight qualifiers and then netting three of his side's four goals as they sealed the deal in Denmark.
The final whistle sparked scenes of wild jubilation among the gold-and-blue clad players and fans as the squad rushed to celebrate with their supporters.
"They (the Danes) were going to send me into retirement, but I sent their whole country into retirement!" a jubilant Ibrahimovic told Swedish broadcaster Kanal 5 as he was engulfed by his team mates on live television.
He had silenced the home fans in the 19th minute when he ghosted out to meet Kim Kallstrom's corner, twisting athletically to sweep the ball past flat-footed goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
Then he punished the Danes for their failure to create chances with a beautiful curling free kick in the 76th minute to send the Swedes closer to a place in France next year.
Late goals by Yussuf Poulsen and Jannik Vestergaard provided some comfort for the home fans, but once again they struggled to create and convert chances.
With Denmark coach Morten Olsen making four changes from the team that started Saturday's 2-1 defeat in Stockholm, the Danes looked much more muscular in midfield, but the final ball was often poor.
Striker Nicklas Bendtner had a game to forget in his home town, and was widely booed when he was replaced by Morten Rasmussen on the hour.
Denmark had overrun the Swedes in the opening exchanges and should have broken the deadlock in the eighth minute, but Poulsen, Daniel Agger and Thomas Delaney all failed to find the net in quick succession.
Ibrahimovic gave his all, eschewing his usual array of flicks and tricks in favour of hard defensive work, inspiring his side to cover every blade of grass on the Parken pitch.
It was an effort that paid off handsomely, thanks to the striker's double, and the Swedish fans ended their evening by singing the national anthem on a drizzly Danish night, no doubt dreaming of the warmer climes of France next year.
Ukraine reach Euro 2016 after 1-1 draw in Slovenia
Ukraine qualified for the 2016 European Championship finals after overcoming an early blow to secure a nervy and at times fractious 1-1 draw in Slovenia that gave them a 3-1 aggregate playoff win on Tuesday.
Forward Andriy Yarmolekno scored in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time for Ukraine to cancel out Slovenia captain Bostjan Cesar's early opener for the home side.
Shortly before Yarmolenko's goal, which sealed the tie, Slovenia had right back Miso Brecko sent off for a reckless challenge on Yevhen Konoplyanka.
The outcome of a scrappy affair was also sweet revenge for Ukraine after they suffered a 3-2 aggregate defeat by Slovenia in the Euro 2000 playoffs, when the former Yugoslav republic reached their first major tournament as an independent nation.
The Slovenians launched waves of attacks from the start and Cesar converted their first chance, heading in from close-range after some poor defending by Ukraine.
Goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov failed to deal with a teasing cross by Valter Birsa and after a visiting defender blocked Milivoje Novakovic's effort, the ball fell kindly for Cesar.
The home team's keeper Samir Handanovic produced a pair of good saves either side of the goal, keeping out a swerving Konoplyanka free kick before parrying a shot by striker Yevhen Seleznyov.
Slovenia came close to levelling the tie on aggregate when midfielder Nejc Pecnik's fierce shot cannoned off a static Pyatov shortly before halftime.
Handanovic again denied Konoplyanka and Yarmolenko while defender Yaroslav Rakitskiy volleyed inches over the bar as Ukraine gained the upper hand after the break.
The visitors were nearly punished several minutes later, when Cesar was left unmarked at the far post for a free header which Pyatov somehow kept out.
Ukraine then survived a fierce Slovenia onslaught as substitute Zlatan Ljubijankic had a shot blocked and the home side forced a flurry of corners in the dying minutes.
With tempers occasionally flaring on the pitch, Slovenia's fans hurled several flares into Ukraine's penalty box in the closing stages, much to the dismay of the home team's players and coach Srecko Katanec.
Following Brecko's dismissal, Kevin Kampl slipped and lost possession in the centre circle allowing three Ukrainian players to race clear, before Yarmolenko was presented with a simple tap-in.
Seferovic brace hands Austria first defeat for one year
Haris Seferovic scored a first-half brace to give Switzerland a 2-1 friendly win over Austria on Tuesday and hand their neighbours and fellow Euro 2016 qualifiers their first defeat for exactly one year.
The visitors went ahead in the ninth minute when Austria captain David Alaba completely miscued a header in midfield and Seferovic nipped in to lob the ball home from 25 metres with goalkeeper Ramazan Ozcan stranded outside his area.
Alaba atoned four minutes later by slotting home the equaliser but Eintracht Frankfurt striker Seferovic replied eight minutes from halftime when he flicked Admir Mehmedi's dinked cross past Ozcan.
Austria, who had won their last five games and were unbeaten in seven, last lost to Brazil in a friendly in November last year.
