With a combined 160 goals in 309 national team games going into the qualifying playoffs this week, it was no surprise and delivered yet again.
Even at a combined age of 77.
Their goals leveled the score in the second half of European playoff semifinals that Poland and Bosnia-Herzegovina would go on to win late Thursday.
Lewandowski and D啪eko will captain their countries in playoff finals on Tuesday aiming to reach a World Cup that shapes as a last one 鈥� surely? 鈥� for a stellar group of old geezers.
is now 41, is 40 and will turn 39 during the group stage.
All of them Ballon d鈥橭r winners and still with a talismanic influence on the Portugal, Croatia and Argentina teams who will be in North America in June.
Ronaldo likely will not even be the oldest player at the 48-nation tournament.
has turned 43 since starring in a against Denmark. The oldest ever was in goal for Egypt against Saudi Arabia at the 2018 World Cup.
Will Lewandowski and D啪eko join them?
Lewangoalski again
鈥淔or Lewandowski it was like another day at the office, right?鈥� Poland right back Matty Cash said after a 2-1 comeback win over Albania in Warsaw.
Poland trailed to Albania鈥檚 opening goal just before halftime when its inspirational captain scored his 89th international goal.
Lewandowski rose high at the back post from a 63rd-minute corner to head down and into the Albania net. The win was secured in the 73rd by a powerful 25-meter shot by Piotr Zieli艅ski, the Inter Milan midfielder.
鈥淢aybe it was not the game of our dreams but I won鈥檛 complain about it,鈥� the 37-year-old Lewandowski said. 鈥淲e won and that鈥檚 the most important.鈥�
Now Poland travels to Sweden, a 3-1 winner over Ukraine thanks to a Viktor Gy枚keres hat trick on Thursday.
D啪eko lifts Bosnia toward Italy test
Bosnia trailed Wales 1-0 in the 86th and faced the end of the World Cup qualifying road when D啪eko rose to meet a corner. The 40-year-old veteran soared higher than Wales goalkeeper Karl Darlow and glanced his header into the unguarded goal.
D啪eko fulfilled his duty with his 73rd national team goal and watched from the bench in extra time before a penalty shootout his teammates won 4-2.
鈥淲hen you see everything we deserved this win,鈥� D啪eko said. 鈥淏eat Wales away which is never easy, a little bit (of) luck but also quality on the penalty shootout.鈥�
Italy visits Zenica on Tuesday when one team will earn a place at its first World Cup since the 2014 edition in Brazil.
鈥淚t would mean everything,鈥� said D啪eko, whose goal 12 years ago was wrongly disallowed for offside in a in . That sent Bosnia home after the group stage from its only World Cup appearance as an independent soccer nation.
鈥淣ot just for me but also for these young kids, this new generation,鈥� D啪eko said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of good players.鈥�
Among them Kerim Alajbegovi膰, the 18-year-old Salzburg winger who calmly scored the winning penalty in Cardiff. Alajbegovi膰 was not even born in June 2007 when D啪eko played 鈥� and scored 鈥� on his Bosnia debut.
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