Killer Kroos gets Germany out of jail to keep World Cup dreams alive

After a shock 1-0 loss to Mexico, it was simple: Germany needed to get a result against Sweden to keep their World Cup dreams alive.

They came out of the blocks all guns blazing against Sweden, dominating possession, but struggled to create clear-cut opportunities. Julian Draxler came the closest early on as his shot/cross bounced just wide of the far post.

It allowed their opposition to grow into the game and the Swedes started to exploit the same defensive frailties that were on show against the Mexicans. 

Marcus Berg broke quick and found himself one-on-one with Neuer but a push in the back from Jerome Boateng made the forward shoot straight at the German goalkeeper.

Amazingly, VAR didn't get involved in the incident, even though Sweden arguably should have had a penalty.

Germany were then forced into an early substitution when Sebastian Rudy was accidentally caught in the face with a boot. Ilkay Gundogan entered the fray but he couldn't change much in the first half.

The World Cup holders had 73 per cent possession but just one shot more than Sweden, who looked far more dangerous and capitalised in the 32nd minute. 

The move was started by Viktor Claesson, who hit a lovely early cross into the danger zone from the right wing after some more sloppiness in the centre of the park from Germany. 

Running on was Ola Toivonen, who did well to chest the ball into his path inside the box. The Toulouse striker seized the chance and lifted a finish over Manuel Neuer, who watched it bounce into the net at the back post.

A frantic end to the half produced no further goals and Sweden went into the break with a 1-0 lead. It meant Germany were staring at an early exit for the first time since 1938.

Joachim Low must have been livid during the interval, bringing Mario Gomez on for Julian Draxler, and it certainly fired the players up as they enjoyed a similar dominat spell to start the second half. However, this time they made it count, securing an equaliser from Marco Reus. 

Just three minutes into the half, Timo Werner hit the byline down the left, cutting a low ball into the box. Waiting in the box was Gomez, but the striker couldn't make anything of it and it bypassed him, finding Reus. 

Reus succeeded where Gomez failed, getting ahead of his man before putting it in the net with his knee, to level the game at 1-1.

Germany were finally starting to play like world champions and had tonnes of chances to find a winner but the Swedish back-line held firm for as long as they could.

They thought they had finally broken the German onslaught when Jerome Boateng received his second yellow of the match after chopping down Berg from behind, reducing the champions to 10 men.

But they kept fighting and finally found the breakthrough in the 95th minute when Jimmy Durmaz gave away a needless free-kick just off the area on the left wing. 

Kroos rolled the ball to Reus, who killed it dead, allowing his team-mate to run on to it and whip a stupendous curling shot high into the far corner with his right foot.

The German players celebrated frantically, a 2-1 victory keeping their World Cup dreams very much alive, while Sweden were stunned.

The result means there is all to play for in the final match. Germany face South Korea and must better Sweden's score-line against Mexico to secure their place in the Round of 16.  

 

June 23, 2018