That’s all from me tonight. That was a cracking game. Germany flirted with disaster and then produced one of the all-time great moments to win the game thanks to Toni Kroos’s last-minute free-kick. The champions are still alive. Sweden will be kicking themselves, but it’s all to play for in Group F! Thanks for reading and emailing. Bye!
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THIS 💥🔥
— Mats Hummels (@matshummels) June 23, 2018
Here’s David Hytner’s match report from Sochi.
The situation in Group F is that no one has qualified yet. Mexico are top with six points. Germany and Sweden, level on three points, both have a goal difference of zero. South Korea, beaten in their first two games, could somehow sneak through if they beat Germany. Germany, Mexico and Sweden could also all end up on six points.
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“Incredible game that turned on two substitutions,” Oyvind Roed says. “Durmaz, who has anything but a cool head, in for Claeson and the very brave change from Löw of Brandt in for Hector. I can only applaud the Germans for their ambition with 10 men.”
Jerome Boateng will be suspended for Germany’s game against South Korea. Probably for the best.
There were some ugly scenes on the touchline at the end. Sweden’s manager, Janne Andersson, was particularly furious. It’s not clear what happened.
For drama, that game will take some beating. The quality wasn’t as high as Spain v Portugal. The drama, though.
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“Horrendously unnecessary free kick to concede there,” Richard South says. “The lad has a fine beard and all, but it’s not been an impressive cameo appearance off the bench by a long shot.”
Sweden players collapse to the floor. They can’t believe it. They were so close. Then they gave away a foolish free-kick in the 95th minute and Toni Kroos came up with a moment of incredible genius to rescue 10-man Germany, who were edging so close to their first first-round exit since 1938! Will that be a turning point for the holders? They were pretty poor for much of this game but now they know a win against South Korea on Wednesday will probably be enough for them to reach the second round. How far they’re going in this tournament remains to be seen. But hey, never write off the Germans.
Full-time: Germany 2-1 Sweden
My word!
90 min+7: It’s still not over. Can Sweden equalise? Their fans are stunned.
90 min+6: I suppose that’s why they’re world champions.
The free-kick was on the left of the Sweden area. It was surely too far wide for a shot. Think again. Kroos rolled the ball to Reus, who killed it dead. Kroos ran on to it and whipped a stupendous shot high into the far corner with his right foot! That is astonishing! What technique! What timing! Olsen was grasping at thin air and Germany have got themselves out of jail!
GOAL! Germany 2-1 Sweden (Kroos, 90 min+5)
THIS IS INCREDIBLE FROM TONI KROOS.
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90 min+5: Werner charges past Durmaz, who brings him down on the edge of the area over on the left! Germany have one last chance! Kroos is standing over the ball! And...
90 min+3: Germany have two minutes. Remember, a draw doesn’t send them out, but it leaves them needing a favour from Mexico on Wednesday.
90 min+2: Werner wins another corner on the left. They take it short. Gundogan, on the edge of the area, rolls a pass to Brandt. The ball bounces and the winger, who hit the woodwork against Mexico, lets rip from 20 yards with his left foot! This one flies past Olsen - and hits the right post! Incredible! The ball bounces back to Werner, who’s offside as he turns it over. What drama!
90 min+1: Germany really need a goal. But they can’t leave themselves exposed at the back. Sweden, who haven’t beaten Germany since 1978, can put them out with a second goal.
90 min: Sweden make their third change, Isaac Thelin replacing Markus Berg, who takes a long time walking off. Eventually the free-kick can be taken. Olsen punches clear. There will be five added minutes.
89 min: A reminder that Germany have never failed to win their first two group games before. But they’re still plugging away, even though they’re down to 10 men, and they have a free-kick on the left after good play from Brandt.
88 min: Germany keep pressing, against all the odds. Kroos dribbles down the left and chips a cross into the middle. Gomez has the beating of his marker and he powers a header goalwards, only for Olsen to spring back and turn the ball over! What a save!
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87 min: Germany make their final change, Julian Brandt replacing Jonas Hector. Ten-man Germany have two defenders on the pitch.
85 min: The ITV commentator has said that the referee was waiting for Berg to get back to his feet before showing Boateng a second yellow. Over to Roy Keane and Gary Neville for more...
83 min: From the resulting free-kick, Neuer has to punch behind under pressure. Germany deal with the resulting corner. It’s not clear how the referee reached the decision to show Boateng a second yellow but it’s hard to argue with him. It was a poor tackle from Boateng, who went through the back of Berg. The question is whether he was told to act by the VAR.
JEROME BOATENG IS SENT OFF!
82 min: Boateng, already on a booking, chopped down Berg in the middle of Germany’s half. For a while it seems that nothing’s going to happen. Then the Polish referee suddenly decides to show Boateng a second yellow card! Germany are down to 10 men!
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81 min: Kimmich pings a cross into the middle and Werner slashes over from 15 yards! What a chance. Germany are running out of time.
78 min: Sweden make their second change, John Guidetti replacing Ola Toivonen, the goalscorer.
77 min: This result will suit Sweden. It would leave them on four points, three ahead of Germany, and mean they would progress with a draw against Mexico, who are already through.
76 min: Larsson’s corner is headed away as far as Forsberg, who sees his volley from 20 yards saved by Neuer.
75 min: Durmaz makes his first contribution, winning a corner for Sweden.
74 min: Sweden make their first change, Jimmy Durmaz replacing Claesson. Here, given that Germany’s best method of attack has been Timo Werner running down the left in the second, you ... wonder ... if ... there ... might ... have ... been ... a ... place ... for ... Leroy ... Sane.
73 min: Your humble MBMer is not happy with THE LACK OF REPLAYS WHAT ARE THESE CLOWNS THINKING tonight.
72 min: Out of nothing, Werner suddenly breaks down the left. He reaches the byline and turns the ball into the middle. Olsen has to react smartly to prevent Granqvist turning the ball into his own goal!
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71 min: Boateng’s booked for tripping Forsberg.
70 min: Sweden should think about making a change. They’re looking tired.
68 min: Boateng hoists a ball into the middle. Gomez prods over from close range. The flag’s up offside, although he might have been on. Gomez seemed to take his eye off the ball.
66 min: This is relentless. Kimmich whacks a cross into the middle. Gomez touches it on and Olsen parries it out. He’s fortunate the loose ball doesn’t come to a Germany attacker.
65 min: Kroos has another dig. A deflection takes his 25-yarder over for a corner. Sweden haven’t had an attack in the second half.
63 min: Kroos dummies on the edge of the area to create space for a shot. But his scuffed effort isn’t troubling anyone.
61 min: Germany carefully piece an attack together. Kimmich zaps a low ball into the middle and Reus tries to Kanu it in, only to miss the ball completely. Sweden survive. For how much longer?
59 min: This is being played like a knockout game. It’s end-to-end, with Germany playing with much more vim and intensity. They don’t have much control but there is a sense they have the quality to create and take a big chance.
56 min: Werner, who looks so much better on the left, runs at Sweden again and jabs a cross into the middle. Hector collects and shoots from 12 yards, but Olsen dives down to his left to save.
55 min: A lull.
52 min: This is frantic. Ekdal picks up a booking for scything down Muller.
51 min: Kroos whips the free-kick to the near post and Muller heads just wide.
49 min: Germany are up for this now! Kroos pops up on the edge of the area and sees his deflected shot spin just wide. Sweden are panicking. moments later Claesson has to cut out a cross that was destined for Gomez. Then Lindelof concedes a free-kick in a dangerous position on the right. They’re playing like world champions now.
Werner runs at Sweden on the left and drives to the byline. He pulls a cross into the six-yard box. Gomez can’t make anything of it but it spins off him, allowing Reus to chargs in ahead of Augustinsson and knee the ball past Olsen! Germany have a lifeline!
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GOAL! Germany 1-1 Sweden (Reus, 48 min)
That didn’t take long! Germany are level!
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47 min: Germany look like they’re playing 4-4-2. They are England.
46 min: Off we go again. If it stays like this, Mexico and Sweden will be through to the second round and Germany and South Korea will be out. Mario Gomez has replaced Julian Draxler, who is so disappointing, and joined Timo Werner up front. “What’s got into Die Mannschaft at this World Cup?” Joseph Lam says. “They’re uncharacteristically shaky at the back, today perhaps even more so than against Mexico. I get that today they may be missing the presence of the mighty Mats Hummels, but still, Boateng and Rudiger have been immense all season. And reports of a dressing room rift are distinctly un-German. Right now, teams are doing to Joshua Kimmich as Kimmich did to Marcelo in that Real-Bayern tie this season. Like Real, Germany might need a defensive blunder/goalkeeper howler to get back in this one. Mind you, we’ve seen plenty of those this World Cup so far...”
Jerome Boateng has taken a pasting during the half-time analysis on ITV. “Boateng’s walking around like he’s playing Sunday football ,” Roy Keane spits. “He’s been a disgrace. Get him off.” Gary Neville chips in. “Roy is absolutely right, the centre-backs have been a joke. Boateng thinks he’s Beckenbauer. He thinks he’s a player. He’s played under Pep and thinks he’s a fantastic football player. He has been a joke in this first half. He has delusions of grandeur. He’s wandering forward, ambling in the game.”
Half-time: Germany 0-1 Sweden
Germany are 45 minutes from first-round elimination from the World Cup for the first time since 1938. Sweden deservedly lead thanks to Ola Toivonen’s smart goal and the holders will be out if they can’t find an equaliser in the second half. That doesn’t look a likely prospect at the moment - Germany have been poor all over the pitch and Sweden have been comfortable since recovering from a nervous start.
45 min+2: A free-kick to Sweden on the right. Larsson whips it in and Berg glances a header towards the far corner, only for Neuer to turn it aside! What a huge moment that could turn out to be if Germany turn this around!
45 min: Boateng’s shot fizzes wide from 20 yards. There will be two added minutes.
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44 min: Sweden break down the left, Forsberg leading the charge, Germany all over the place. Forsberg bends a splendid ball into the middle with the outside of his right foot. Toivonen can’t collect it but the ball runs through to Claesson on the right. He should shoot, but he tries to cut inside and loses the chance. What a let-off for Germany - but they were pierced with incredible ease yet again.
43 min: Kimmich crosses, Draxler pushes Lustig. The Germany players don’t look happy at all.
@JacobSteinberg Welcome to a Brave New World. What exactly is a German team's response when under elimination pressure? At least England are old pros at that one.
— Hubert O'Hearn (@BTBReviews) June 23, 2018
42 min: Reus hammers a cross into the area. It hits Werner, reminding us of his existence, and Sweden clear. “How will they blame Ozil for this?” Gene Salorio says.
39 min: Gundogan lets fly from 25 yards. The shot’s deflected and Olsen has to show magnificent reflexes to adjust his body and dive to his right to push the ball out! Muller hurtles on to the loose ball. Lustig turns the ball on to the forward and Olsen springs up to turn the ball wide for a corner!
38 min: “The first thing the winner of this World Cup should do is to change the manager in preparation of the next World Cup,” Gokul Kannan says. “Possibly a few players too. The stats cannot be more clear and obvious.”
36 min: Kimmich’s cross drifts out of play. Germany look stunned. The Swedish fans are bouncing. “A nationalmannschaffting,” Matt Dony parps.
35 min: If it stays like this, Germany are out of the World Cup. That goal hadn’t exactly been coming, but Sweden were growing in confidence and Germany’s attacking threat had rather fizzled out. They don’t look convincing at all. Can they shake their heads clear?
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This is a fine goal from the Sunderland legend. Germany lose possession again in midfield, Kroos the guilty party, and Sweden attack down the right. Claesson looks up and sees Toivonen in the middle. He picks him out with a lovely cross that cuts out Toivonen, who’s peeled between two Germany defenders. The striker takes the ball on his chest and then lobs it superbly over the onrushing Manuel Neuer with his right foot, perhaps via a slight touch off the covering Rudiger! That is a stunning, impudent finish and Germany are in major bother now! Toni Kroos covers his face with his hand. Manuel Neuer bellows at his team-mates. Can the world champions respond?
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GOAL! Germany 0-1 Sweden (Toivonen, 32 min)
Oh my!
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31 min: Ilkay Gundogan replaces Sebastian Rudy, who remains topless. “It’s the referee’s decision whether or not to heed any VAR advice, and this ref doesn’t seem overly enamoured (going by his previous match too),” says Rob Marriott. “Everyone manning the VAR is also a referee, and almost all referees have spent their entire careers not penalising pulling/pushing in the box, so why are they going to change now? VAR is just making it more obvious that a blind eye is being turned.”
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30 min: It seems that Germany are going to remove Rudy. Blood is still gushing from his nose. I had a nosebleed in the gym yesterday. That’s my Partridgean contribution.
29 min: Werner heads the corner away. Rudy still hasn’t returned. He’s still shirtless. Don’t they have another shirt for him? His previous one was covered in blood.
28 min: Sweden are enjoying a decent spell of possession. That might be because Rudy is yet to return. Augustinsson ambles down the right and crosses to the far post. Hector heads behind for a corner. “This Germany team’s performance and vibe is more that of a tranquilized snail than a dead frog’s,” Navid Samedi says. “At least frogs look graceful even in death, with their long limbs and shiny skins!”
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26 min: Blood is streaming from Rudy’s nose. He’s led off the pitch and will presumably return with some heavy bandaging. He had slid in to tackle Toivonen, who inadvertently caught the Germany midfielder.
25 min: Rudy goes down clutching his head. He’ll need some treatment. He was caught accidentally by Toivonen’s boot.
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24 min: A corner to Germany on the left, Kroos winning it. He’ll also take it. But Larsson heads it away. “I am always amazed by the number of infringements that would be a simple foul given if they happened in the centre circle or if the attacker had done the same to the defender,” Lee Calvert says. “The Boateng effort of Berg is a classic example of the genre. The law book is no different in the penalty area, but in practice it’s clear and obvious that it is.”
23 min: Germany have had most of the ball, but it’s 1-1 on clear chances. That has to be a worry for Germany – better teams will fancy themselves against this defence.
22 min: Reus sends a pass through to Muller, but Ekdal tracks the forward’s run and ushers the ball out of play. Fine covering. “On Sweden’s claim for a penalty I am confused,” Daniel Jeffreys says. “Is a penalty awarded for manhandling an opponent off the ball? Or for blowing gently into his ear as he prepares to shoot? In this World Cup it seems it can be both. Or neither. Does VAR stand for Very Annoyingly Random?”
20 min: “What is VAR good for?” says JR in Illinois. “Seriously.I’m sick of people saying how well it’s working. I’m not having it. That was a clear and obvious penalty. What determines when they consult VAR? I don’t know. Do you? Does anyone? Oh it’s so maddening.”
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19 min: Rudy’s shot from 25 yards dribbles harmlessly wide. “VAR was meant to reduce feelings of anger and injustice, but by being available and these things STILL being missed makes it even worse,” Hugh Molloy says. “Why don’t we just give the referees a magic 8 ball and be done with it?”
18 min: Sweden hurl the ball into the Germany area. Lustig knocks it down to Berg, who sees his volley blocked by Boateng.
17 min: I’ve just seen another replay of Sweden’s penalty appeal. It was a clear shove from Boateng on Berg. It was a foul and it should have been a penalty and a booking for Boateng.
14 min: Sweden are still furious about not being given a penalty. Boateng’s intervention did knock Berg off balance. Still, at least they’ve discovered the vulnerability in Germany’s defence. It was so simple for them to get through.
12 min: A Germany attack breaks down and Sweden counter. Germany’s defence is so high and one pass is all it takes to send Berg speeding through on goal! The striker takes quite a heavy touch that allows Neuer to race from his line and close him down. As he prepares to shoot, there’s pressure from Boateng. Berg’s shot is blocked by Neuer and he claims that there’s a push from Boateng! The referee isn’t interested and there’s no VAR check. Germany got away with that. Boateng did seem to shove Berg in the back.
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11 min: Kimmich is playing very high again, just as he did against Mexico. Sweden should look to target Germany’s right side on the break.
9 min: A German goal looks inevitable at the moment. Kimmich sends Reus scooting to the right byline and the winger’s cross, intended for Werner, is desperately turned behind by Lindelof.
8 min: Reus slips a pass through to Draxler on the left. He fizzes a low ball across the face of goal but no one’s there to apply the final touch and Sweden breathe another sigh of relief as the cross slithers past the far post.
6 min: I wouldn’t mind seeing a replay of Draxler’s chance. I think it was Augustinsson who made the block to deny the Germany forward. Life moves fast, though, and soon Sweden are tearing forward. Forsberg almost bustles into the area, but he’s muscled out by Muller and Kimmich.
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5 min: Germany have Sweden pinned back. Kimmich knocks a long, raking pass to Hector, who lays the ball off to Reus. Sweden hack it clear.
3 min: Germany make a fast start, probing down the right. Kimmich gets in and the ball finds its way to Draxler, who’s denied from close range! Werner also can’t turn it in and Sweden somehow scramble the ball clear. Moments later Hector sees a shot blocked from the edge of the area. Germany really should be ahead.
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Peep! Sweden, in blue shirts and yellow shorts, get the game underway. They’re kicking from right to left in the first half and immediately launch the ball long. Germany are in white shirts and black shorts. They attack down the left and Muller sends a cross into the area. It evades everyone. “At least with Messi,you could explain away his ineffectiveness by not having the Barcelona players around him; but for Ozil his interest in his Arsenal team-mates always looked fairly lukewarm, so their replacement by better players ought to have had a more salutary effect,” Charles Antaki says. “Low must have suspected that Ozil was living some sort of Emirates flash-back, and decided on a merciful release.”
We’ve had the anthems! It’s almost time for more football.
Here come the teams! It’s a huge night for Germany. It’s a huge night for the World Cup. A Sweden win here and the holders are out in the first round for the first time since 1938!
On ITV, Gary Neville is asked what it was like to play against Sweden: “Boring!” That’s the fear for Germany tonight - that the Swedes will do everything in their power to turn this into a tedious slog.
An email! “I’m relieved to see some of Low’s changes but I thought the worst player on the pitch against Mexico was Muller,” Gina Maya says. “Am starting to see Muller as the equivalent of Matthaus-as-sweeper to the German teams of the 1990s. Undroppable, no matter how much he detracted from the team. Other thoughts: Ozil’s passing and touch make his exclusion troubling. Hope Goretzka and Brandt get their opportunities during this game (instead of Draxler and Muller) - they are way more effective, especially given the park-the-bus tactics I’m expecting from Sweden. Am quietly dreading this match, as a fan of Germany.”
Pre-match reading
Sebastian Rudy’s inclusion has caused something of a stir in Germany. Joachim Low’s stock is under threat. Even Phillip Lahm, the former Germany captain, has told German television that he’s surprised to see the 28-year-old Bayern Munich player in the side. A lot of fans would have preferred to see Leon Goretzka start.
It’s also a slight surprise to see Timo Werner keep his place up front. The young RB Leipzig forward didn’t get much change out of the Mexico defence last Sunday and there was an expectation that he would be replaced by the burly Mario Gomez. Germany really miss Miroslav Klose, don’t they?
It’s a huge call to drop Mesut Ozil. The Arsenal man was, of course, dire against Mexico, but he’s been such a big part of Joachim Low’s side for the best part of a decade. Now he steps out for a must-win game, which isn’t exactly the greatest show of faith from his manager. Still, it will look like the right decision if Marco Reus has a positive impact. The Dortmund forward is a cracking player and he could give Germany more incision and snap - but the worry is he’s a diminished force after suffering so many injuries.
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Mexico have beaten South Korea 2-1 in the other Group F game. That means Germany will be out if they lose tonight. A draw would also be damaging for Joachim Low’s side as it would leave them vulnerable to the possibility of being on the wrong end of a 1982-style Anschluss when Mexico and Sweden meet on Wednesday.
Germany make four changes to the side that lost to Mexico. The injured Mats Hummels is replaced by Antonio Rudiger in central defence, Jonas Hector replaces Marvin Plattenhardt at left-back, Sebastian Rudy takes Sami Khedira’s spot in midfield and Mesut Ozil makes way for 2013’s Marco Reus.
Sweden keep faith with much of the side that saw off South Korea. The only change is at the back, where Manchester United’s Victor Lindelof has recovered from illness in time to replace Pontus Jansson.
The teams
Germany: Neuer; Kimmich, Rudiger, Boateng, Hector; Rudy, Kroos; Muller, Draxler, Reus; Werner.
Sweden: Olsen; Lustig, Lindelof, Granqvist, Augustinsson; Claesson, Larsson, Ekdal, Forsberg; Berg, Toivonen.
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (Poland).
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Ozil and Khedira dropped!
As reported by Bild an hour or so ago, Joachim Low has swung his big selection axe and made contact with Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira. Both midfielders are left out of Germany’s starting 11. I’ll have the full teams in a minute.
Preamble
You have to go back to 1938 to find the last time Germany failed to make it past the first round of the World Cup. Not to worry, though, because 80 years of hurt might be about to come to an end! Wait, that’s the wrong way round. This isn’t Opposite Land. Oh no. This is going even worse than Germany’s opening game at Russia 2018.
There we go, back on track. Which, by happy coincidence, is where Joachim Low’s side hope to find themselves after meeting Sweden in Sochi this evening. For now, though, the world champions are in unfamiliar, uncertain territory, even if their fate remains in their hands. Just like France in 2002, Italy in 2010 and Spain in 2014, the holders are in trouble and the mood in the camp is glum. Mario Basler, the former Bayern Munich midfielder, says Mesut Ozil has the “body language of a dead frog”, a row’s erupted over Ozil and Ilkay Gundogan meeting Recep Erdogan, the president of Turkey, before the tournament and there’s talk of a split between a “Bling-Bling gang” (Ozil, Sami Khedira, Jerome Boateng and Julian Draxler) and the Bavarians (Manuel Neuer, Mats Hummels, Thomas Müller and Toni Kroos). The potential for further chaos is clear - and we haven’t even mentioned Low’s tactics against Mexico.
Suffice to say, Germany’s first defeat in an opening game since 1982 was a shambles. Germany were wide open to the Mexican counterattack throughout, vulnerable to speed and predictable up front. “Our cover was often not good and we were left many times with Jerome and myself at the back,” Hummels said. “Mexico obviously deserved to win it. If seven of eight players are attacking then it’s clear our attacking power is greater. But that’s something that I have often talked about internally. It doesn’t always bear fruit. A wake-up call is too late. We now must win two games, otherwise that is that with the World Cup.”
Time to wake up, then - and Low is likely to make changes here. This will surely be a different Germany. Yet don’t count out the Swedes. They might no longer have Lion Man up front, but they beat Italy to make it this far and have the upper hand after Andreas Granqvist’s penalty helped them see off South Korea in their opening game. Sweden have Emil Forsberg, who needs no introduction to German fans, and plenty of height and organisation. A draw would suit them just fine. Janne Andersson’s side are bound to set out to frustrate.
Can Germany handle the pressure? Well, history suggests they can. You’d be mad to write them off. After all, wouldn’t it be typical if they go on to win every game 1-0 from here and defend their trophy? Perhaps that horror show against Mexico will jolt them into life. Or maybe it was a sign of things to come; the beginning of the end. A night of intrigue awaits.
Kick-off: 7pm BST, 9pm in Sochi.
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