Photo Credit: Getty Images/FIFA.com
Germany 2 -Sweden 1
The slumbering giant has woken up.
After a tough 1-0 loss to Mexico last week to start group play, the expectation of many was that Germany would come out of the box swinging against Sweden. While it took some time for Germany to get going, the end result will certainly please their supporters. Despite falling behind and failing to capitalize on some key opportunities, Germany earned three points thanks to a Toni Kroos wonder strike in stoppage time on Saturday.
Germany head coach Joachim Löw’s decision to drop Meszut Ozil and Sami Khedira in favor of Marco Reus and Sebastian Rudy gave them a bit more speed and some more creativity in the final third. That nearly paid off around the tenth minute when Reus laid in a pass into Sweden’s box that could not connect with an attacker.
With their midfield pressing that left space for Sweden on the counter-attack. In the 13th minute forward Marcus Berg picked off a pass from Germany’s Antonio Rudiger leaving him all alone against goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Berg’s shot was saved by Neuer, although Germany may have gotten off a bit lucky. Before getting off his shot, it appeared that center-back Jerome Boateng pushed Berg. However, no foul was called.
Germany were not as fortunate in the 34th minute, when a cross from midfielder Viktor Claesson was chest trapped by forward Ola Toivonen. Toivonen then chipped his shot over an outstretched Neuer and into the back of the net.
Facing elimination, Germany got to work in the second half. After having some success in the first half going straight at the Swedish center-backs, Löw opted to take a different approach during the second 45 using his outside midfielders to open space in the Swedish defensive third. It paid off almost immediately when Reus finished off a pass inside from Mario Gomez in the 48th minute to make it 1-1.
The two sides traded attacking chances all throughout the second half with their respective defenses having to work overtime to avoid any sort of slip-up. Of the two the Swedish defense were under the most consistent pressure with goalkeeper Robin Olsen being forced to make several emergency stops late. In the 88th minute his leaping save on a Gomez header appeared to seal up the point for Sweden.
But Germany, who had gone down to ten men after Boateng was sent off for his second yellow card, had one last chance to get the three points. In the third minute of injury time Timo Werner earned a free kick just outside of Sweden’s eighteen yard box. On the next play Kroos fired a high swerving effort just beyond Olsen’s reach and into the far left corner of the goal.
With the three points Germany (1-1-0, 3 points) moves into second place in Group F behind Mexico (2-0-0, 6 points). They will face South Korea (0-2-0, 0 points) in their final match of group play on Wednesday.
As for Sweden (1-1-0, 3 points) their chances of advancing into the knockout stage took a big blow in the second half against Germany. While they can certainly still advance, they will need a win or a draw against Mexico on Wednesday and a lot of help from South Korea. It should be noted that all four sides from Group F can still qualify for the knockout stage.
Germany
2018 World Cup
