Germany have come back from the precipice of elimination to pull off an utterly extraordinary 2-1 victory over Sweden in Sochi.
Down a man and with the last moments of stoppage time ticking away, Toni Kroos has scored a goal of such sheer and utter brilliance that only a truly world class player with ice in their veins could have finished off the shot that has kept his country’s world cup defence alive.
Sweden will feel very much aggrieved, having not only survived an opening barrage of German attack to take the lead, and having had a legitimate early penalty call not even reviewed.
Germany owned the second half though, an early equaliser to Marcos Reus bringing the Germans right back into the contest. However, there was another twist in the tale, with Jerome Boateng seeing red as he received a second yellow in the 82nd minute, and Germany chasing a result down a man.
Kroos, who had earlier given Sweden the opener with lost possession in the midfield, stepped up, and saved his country, and Germany will face South Korea with their own fate in their own hands.
A classic in Sochi.
Final score
Germany 2
Sweden 1
We come to a must win match for one of these Group F teams, as the still reigning world champions Germany take on Sweden, but it’s not the team that was expected to already be in the must-win position. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 4am AEST.
Germany have a pretty good record against the Swedes, having gone 11-straight matches without defeat (5 wins, 6 draws).
Of course, Germany first-upng off a first up loss that took every single person who has ever heard of football and Germany by surprise. Can much be read into Germany’s first up loss to Mexico? Yes, there can.
For starters, Germany had 26 shots on goal. Yes, 26, count ’em. That is simply unheard of to attack a goal that much and come away with nothing unless you’re Arsenal.
Now of those 26 shots, 9 were on target. If you have 9 shots on target, you would normally anticipate that you’re going to score goals. Or at the very least, a goal. But here we are, Germany were held scoreless, and lost the match.
And those shots don’t factor in the 8 corners and 67% possession the Germans enjoyed. Long and short of it is that Germany dominated their opening match, and will feel rightly aggrieved they don’t already have 3 points to their name.
So it is questionable that Joachim Loew will be pressing any panic buttons.
Sweden on the other hand had a mere 15 shots on goal, only 4 of which were on target, and they relied on a penalty to do the job against South Korea. So while there are statistics, damn statistics, and lies, the statistics going into this match say that Germany are the form team, and Sweden would be mindful of lifting their game.
Sweden simply did not have the firepower up front to trouble their opponent, so it is difficult to see them troubling a much better credentialed and tactically superior German defence.
Also expect a big display from Mesut Ozil. I do not know what that guy has done to those in the media and his fanbase, but I have never seen someone so talented cop so much abuse for a perceived lack of effort and energy. The man is a once in a generation player, and he was statistically one of the best players on the park against Mexico. He simply could not have done anymore to lift his country over the line.
He will most likely step up a level even more, and take out his frustration on an unsuspecting Swedish outfit.
Prediction
Germany, historically, always make the knockout round, regardless of form, so history says they will put the cleaners through Sweden and get their World Cup defence back on track.
Germany 2 – Sweden 0.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this Group E match from 4am (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
mgm
Guest
Germany were very lucky to not go down 2-0 in the first half, there were some very dubious decisions made by this referee and the VAR against Sweden! Sweden should have been awarded a penalty in the 13th minute, that was a dead set penalty and the VAR is a farst especially when France were given a similar penalty by the VAR against the Socceroos. This is the problem with the VAR and any video refereeing decision maker in sport.
perry cox
Roar Guru
Full Time Germany have come back from the precipice of elimination to pull off an utterly extraordinary 2-1 victory over Sweden in Sochi. With a free kick on the edge of the area, in the 95th minute of the game, Toni Kroos stepped up and slotted a world class strike that Sweden keeper Robin Olsen would do very little about. The pressure was right on the Germans, as Joachim Loew named a starting line-up minus Mesut Ozil, in answer to a lackluster Germany that had failed to score against Mexico. The opening stages of the match belonged to a German team possessed, determined to right many wrongs that were displayed against Mexico. However, for all the possession, territory, and shots, it was Germany who found themselves behind just after the half-hour mark, through a counter attacking Sweden and an Ola Toivonen lob. For the remainder of the first half, Germany attacked, but their attack just seemed to lack that killer instinct, and necessary cohesion. Germany came out firing in the second half, grabbing an equaliser through Marcos Reus, and Germany's hopes of a successful cup defence were back on track. Germany owned the second half. However, there was another twist in the tale, with Jerome Boateng seeing red as he received a second yellow in the 82nd minute, and Germany chasing a result down a man. Down a man and with the last moments of stoppage time ticking away, Toni Kroos has scored a goal of such sheer and utter brilliance that only a truly world class player with ice in their veins could have finished off the shot that has kept his country's world cup defence alive. Kroos, who had earlier given Sweden the opener with lost possession in the midfield, stepped up, and saved his country, and Germany will face South Korea with their own fate in their own hands. He put in a performance this match to personally carry Germany over the line, involving himself in everything. It was fitting that the man to win the match for Germany, was Kroos, and not just win it, but do so in a fashion that required a strike of perfection and precision. If anything, Kroos was the only man capable of doing it. Sweden will feel very much aggrieved, having not only survived an opening barrage of German attack to take the lead, but having had a legitimate early penalty call not even reviewed. Had that penalty been given, and Sweden taken the 2 goal lead, the result would likely have been abundantly, and far-reachingly, different. Still, Sweden remain alive in this cup, and they will need to beat Mexico, and beat them well, to proceed to the knockout stages. A classic in Sochi.
Germany: 2 Sweden: 1
perry cox
Roar Guru
Full Time What a result. Germany have done it. Germany have their cup back on their times. Kroos, the hero.
Germany: 2 Sweden: 1
Blake Standfield
Roar Guru
Sweeden got what they deserved for just bending over when they had the extra man.
perry cox
Roar Guru
Yellow Card 97' - Larsson with a yellow for grabbing the ball. Such heartbreak for Sweden, they are stunned. German fans are electric with excitement. Sweden though cannot believe it. They have been robbed. They will think back to that penalty call.
Germany: 2 Sweden: 1
perry cox
Roar Guru
Goal 96' - KROOS HAS DONE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE FREE KICK FROM THE EDGE, THE LITTLE LAY OFF, HE COMES BACK, AND THE SHOT IS EXQUISITE, IT'S DIVINE, IT'S WONDERFUL. IT'S THE WORLD CUP, AND GERMANY ARE BACK BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Germany: 2 Sweden: 1
User
Roar Rookie
Omfg unbelievable
perry cox
Roar Guru
95' - Right. This might be it. Free kick. Left hand side. Edge of the area. Kroos over the ball. This is it folks. Late drama?
Germany: 1 Sweden: 1
perry cox
Roar Guru
94' - Gundogan heavily involved. Kroos sends the ball in, Kimmich on the ball. He's send that out. Sweden goal kick. That may be it. Joachim Loew is a man in a lot of pain right now.
Germany: 1 Sweden: 1
perry cox
Roar Guru
93' - Forsberg is through, he goes wide. There's a foul, and it goes Germany's way. Little over two minutes to go.
Germany: 1 Sweden: 1
perry cox
Roar Guru
92' - REUS HITS THE POST!!!!!!! No, it was Brandt, he rockets the shot, beats the keeper, and that's all post. The rebound his Werner, and he's offside. It is simply not Germany's tournament.
Germany: 1 Sweden: 1
perry cox
Roar Guru
91' - 5 minutes of stoppage time. It's still the ten men of Germany pressing in attack.
Germany: 1 Sweden: 1
perry cox
Roar Guru
90' - Kroos sends in the free kick, it's headed out. Brandt sends it back in, Olsen punches it away. Why didn't he catch that?!
Germany: 1 Sweden: 1
perry cox
Roar Guru
89' - Sweden making a change here. Berg walks off, and boy isn't he taking his sweet time. Thelin comes on in his place.
Germany: 1 Sweden: 1
perry cox
Roar Guru
89' - Olsen may have kept Germany out of the knockout stage. Here come Germany again. Brandt out wide.
Germany: 1 Sweden: 1
perry cox
Roar Guru
88' - And Olsen with the save of his life. Gomez heads, and heads true, but Olsen bumps it over the crossbar. Germany just cannot win! Corner Germany.
Germany: 1 Sweden: 1
perry cox
Roar Guru
87' - Brandt gets straight amongst it. And despite being down to 10 men, it is still Germany who push for the win. It's all them, with all the ball, in the attacking zone. They continue to move the ball.
Germany: 1 Sweden: 1
perry cox
Roar Guru
86' - It is astonishing to me that Germany haven't won yet in this Cup. The ball movement is simply a sight to behold. Hector comes off the field for Brandt. That's Germany's subs done.
Germany: 1 Sweden: 1
perry cox
Roar Guru
85' - Can the ten men of Germany steal a win here. They continue to attack. Olsen takes a deflected cross. I'd say Sweden are satisfied with the point. German fans look on bewildered. I'm somewhat bewildered myself.
Germany: 1 Sweden: 1
KenoathCarnt
Guest
Man this game has had everything probly a good time you want to be watching as a neutral from Sweeden.