Match Review: Germany v. Sweden

Germany v Sweden
Score: 2-1
Goals: Toivonen 32', Reus 48', Kroos 90+5'
Possession: 71-29
Shots: 16-8
Man of the match: Marco Reus (G)

In one of the most entertaining matches of the World Cup thus far Germany defeated Sweden at the death 2-1. The match started off with Germany looking like its old self. They came out controlling possession and forcing turnovers in midfield. They created couple great opportunities early on. For instance, just two minutes into the match striker Timo Werner was able to get to the byline. He played a beautiful square ball right to Julian Draxler, but his shot was blocked at the last moment. Germany continued to pile on the pressure and created another opportunity just a couple moments later when young right back Joshua Kimmich played a beautifully weighted ball in behind the Sweden defense. The ball found Marco Reus who squared it, but a diving block by defender Andreas Granqvist made a goal-saving challenge and cleared the ball to safety. Germany continued to dominate but against the run of play defender Antonio Rudiger gave the ball away and striker Marcus Berg was clean through on goal. But the just when Berg was about to shoot he was tackled from behind by Jerome Boateng in what the referee deemed a fair challenge. The Sweden players protested for the next couple minutes, but somehow VAR agreed with the decision from the referee. Berg was cut across by Boateng who seemingly got none of the ball which left Sweden manager Janne Andersson furious. Let's just say the Germans got away with one. From this moment on though Sweden started to come into the match and limited German chances. The Swedes were rewarded with their play in the 32' minute when Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos gave the ball away very cheaply in midfield. Winger Viktor Claesson played a beautiful ball that was wonderfully chested down by Toivonen who dinked Neuer with help from a slight touch from Boateng. This seemed to demoralize the Germans who would be eliminated if they were to lose this match. Both teams though created great chances to either equalize or double their advantage before the half ended. The first chance fell to Ilkay Gundogan who just replaced the injured Sebastian Rudy. He hit a 25-yard strike that took a massive deflection but was wonderfully saved by Robin Olsen. Just on the stroke of half-time though Sweden had an excellent opportunity from a free kick. Midfielder Sebastian Larsson swung in an early ball which caught off the German defense and let Berg have a free header at goal. His header though was saved by a diving Manuel Neuer which sent the match into halftime. The Germans though came out with a different attitude in the second half and were able to equalize just three minutes into the half. Timo Werner got to the byline just like he kept doing in the first half and fizzed a cross through the box. The ball found Marco Reus who was able to finish it into the near post. This looked like the Germans finally arrived in at the World Cup. The match continued though and went through a very long dry period. Germany, of course were dominating the possession and were creating some chances, but none of them came to fruition. Then in the 82' minute, a moment of madness happened. Boateng who was running a tight line for most of the match dived in on Marcus Berg coming nowhere near the ball and was sent off with a second yellow. This seemed like the end of the German comeback, but Sweden decided to continue to sit back and let the Germans press forward. Germany created their first opportunity through substitute Julian Brant who smashed a volley off the post. Then in the 95' minute, Germany were awarded a free kick, and Kroos stepped up. Kroos, who had a nightmare performance so far stepped up and produced an absolute moment of magic. Kroos laid it off to Reus who gave it back to Kroos who hit an absolute beautiful curler which went past Olsen and into the back of the net saving Germany's World Cup hopes. This means that both Germany and Sweden are level going into the final matchday with all to play for.