Sweden 1-2 Germany: Kroos Left it Late2 min read

After Mexico won in their earlier fixture, the current world champions needed a win to keep their fate in their own hands while Sweden only required a point from this game and the next.

Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil have been dropped.

From kick-off, Germany had most of the ball possession which resulted in Julian Draxler missing from 6 yards off the goal but was blocked by Mikael Lustig after 4 minutes.

However, less than 10 minutes later Sweden almost made the breakthrough when Germany gave the ball away which allowed Marcus Berg to shoot but was allegedly pushed by Jerome Boateng before he managed the connect the shot.

A penalty shout by Swedes but no VAR was used to reassess the foul.

Germany kept more of the possession with a lot of passes until Toni Kroos lost the ball in the midfield which allowed Ola Toivonen to receive the pass with his chest and chip the German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in the 32^nd minute.

Germany 0-1 Sweden

Germany did not let off pressure with Ilkay Gundogon’s deflected shot was saved by the Swedish goalkeeper Robin Olsen 4 minutes before halftime.

At halftime, the German manager Joachim Low changed the formation in favour to two upfront strikers with Julian Draxler off for Mario Gomez and immediately had an impact when Timo Werner crossed the ball into the box for Reus to equalise with his knee in the 48^th minute.

Germany 1-1 Sweden.

The first half saw Sweden playing defensively well but as soon as they conceded, Germany kept on the pressure which resulted in several close chances.

Jerome Boateng received a second yellow card after he tackled Berg from the back but initially waited to allow Berg to get up and have time to think before showing the red card in the 82^nd minute.

Gomes was denied a goal when his header was brilliantly saved by Swedish keeper Olsen in the 89^th minute.

Once again Germany almost was close when substitute Julian Brandt’s shot from outside the box hit the post in extra time.

Sweden conceded a careless freekick on the left-hand side of the box which was brilliantly taken by Toni Kroos after curling the ball into the net in the 95^th minute.

Sweden 1-2 Germany.

Germany left it really late with only 10 men to gain the vital 3 points to stay in the World Cup.

Now their fate is in their hands.