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Germany have come back from the precipice of likely 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.
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The pressure was right on the Germans before and during the match, as Joachim Loew named a starting line-up minus Mesut Ozil, in answer to a lacklustre 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 in those first ten minutes. However, for all the possession, territory, shots, and dominance, 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 that man and with the last moments of stoppage time ticking away, Toni Kroos 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 two-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.
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