Germany 2-1 Sweden
A moment of pure genius from Toni Kroos grabbed a late, late win for Germany in the most dramatic climax yet in FIFA 2018.
For 95 minutes, Sweden thought they’d done enough to see off the Germans, after Ola Toivonen had given them a deserved lead, pegged back by Marco Reus. But Kroos’ swinging free-kick flew into the far corner of the net in the last meaningful play of the game.
At the beginning of this match, there were still four teams left in the Group F chase to qualify for the last 16, but after Mexico beat South Korea to reach six points, they were inches from qualification while the Koreans hurtled towards the exit. It’s still wide open now, and that is big FIFA 2018 news for Germany fans.
All of the team here at SBOBET backed Germany to reach the quarter-finals at least, as did almost all FIFA 2018 betting tips. But the defeat to Mexico in Joachim Low’s opening fixture tested our resolve. And for most of this game, it looked like Germany were on the way out.
Highlights of the game
Sweden’s narrow win over South Korea gave Jannw Andersson’s side real belief that they could qualify from this tough Group F, and the way they played in the first half added more strength to their argument.
They almost went ahead on 13 minutes when Marcus Berg burst into the box. He got his shot away which was easily saved by FC Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer but looked to have been tripped by Jerome Boateng as he pulled the trigger. The Swedes protested furiously, but no VAR assistance was offered.
Then, just after the half-hour, Sweden went deservedly ahead, sparking wild celebrations among their yellow-clad fans in Sochi. Viktor Claesson clipped over a super ball for Ola Toivonen to latch onto, and the Toulouse striker chipped the ball brilliantly over the advancing Neuer.
Andersson’s team looked the better side, but keeper Robin Olsen was called on to make a brave double save to keep their noses in front. First, he kept out Ilkay Gundogan’s deflected shot before saving from Thomas Muller’s follow-up effort at the near post.
Sweden almost doubled the lead right on the stroke of half-time when Seb Larsson swung over a brilliant cross, met by Marcus Berg who headed towards the corner only for Manuel Neuer to palm the ball wide.
Low must have put a rocket up his lacklustre side at half-time because they exploded into life as soon as the second half started, levelling matters on 48 minutes when Timo Werner made it to the by-line and crossed for Marco Reus to knee the ball into the net.
That changed the mood in Sochi as the Germany fans suddenly found their voices and their team remembered they were World champions. But much as they pressed and probed, Sweden held firm and began to look more comfortable as the half went on, probably happy with a point.
Germany came mighty close, though, on 72 minutes when Werner crossed into the danger area, but the ball was bundled away just as Mario Gomez was about to pounce.
Sweden did come out of their half with 15 minutes left on the clock they won a corner. And as the ball pinged out to Emil Forsberg, the Leipzig midfielder fired a volley in from 25 yards that was comfortably saved by Neuer.
Werner fired over when he might have scored; then Germany went down to ten men when Boateng saw red after he fouled Berg, and that handed the momentum back to Sweden. And they almost snatched a winner when Neuer slipped as a cross flew in but just managed to get a hand to the ball to deny John Guidetti.
As Germany became more desperate, they threw players forward and came so close when Toni Kroos fired in a superb cross for Gomez who saw his point-blank header tipped over by Olsen. And Swedish hearts were in their mouths when Julian Brandt fired a stinging shot in from 20 years which crashed against the post.
But their hearts were broken on 95 minutes when Kroos fired in his beauty at the death.
Key statistics
Just take a look at the Group F Table to see what that all means. Germany are back in with a great chance of qualifying. With a population eight times that of Sweden’s 10 million, you’d expect the World Champions to win, I guess.
How about a quirky statistic? The average height of the Sweden and Germany squad players is identical at 6ft 1 ¼ inches. Big lads.
And here’s another thing. VAR wasn’t called upon tonight when Berg was tripped in the box, but it’s certainly made a difference here in Russia. There have been 14 penalties awarded already at this World Cup and that’s more than the whole of World Cup 2014 together.
What’s next?
It’s all back on again for the Group F teams next Wednesday when Germany face South Korea in Kazan and Sweden meet Mexico in Yekaterinburg.
Sweden need do better against Mexico than Germany do against Korea. It’s as simple as that. But who’d bet against Germany after that?
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