Toni Kroos’ stunning freekick in second half stoppage time secured a crucial 2-1 victory against Sweden to kickstart Germany’s World Cup campaign in Sochi.
After defeat to Mexico, Die Mannschaft were staring elimination in the face when Ola Toivonen scored in the first half; but in typical style, they bounced back through Marco Reus and then Kroos.
Qualification is still far from assured, but the outlook is much brighter now. Here are four talking points from the Fisht Olympic Stadium.
Germany flirted with disaster before Toni Kroos saved the day
Knowing the consequences of defeat, Joachim Löw knew he had to do something and was bold with his team selection; Mesut Özil and Sami Khedira were dropped and Sebastian Rudy, who was forced off with as injury and replaced by Ilkay Gündogan in the first half, and Julian Draxler came in. It was no surprise to see Germany chasing the game from the off; only a win would suffice and a defeat would send them home in embarrassment. Draxler should have given them the lead in the opening minutes when his attempt to divert a cross goalwards was cleared off the line by Sebastian Larsson. His movement, along with that of Reus and Thomas Müller in behind Timo Werner, meant Sweden set up extremely narrowly. Crosses into the box, from fullbacks Jonas Hector and Joshua Kimmich, were a common and worrying theme early on.
Their momentum soon disappeared, though; perhaps Germany sensed chasing the game wouldn’t be as dangerous as it turned out to be against Mexico because Sweden lacked pace in attack, but it didn’t stop Emil Forsberg firing a warning shot by breaking through. Müller stopped him on that occasion, but they were lucky to get away without conceding either a goal or a penalty when Marcus Berg went one-on-one with Manuel Neuer. Their luck ran out when Viktor Claesson found Toivonen with a well-timed clipped ball, which the striker lifted over Neuer impeccably. After the Mexico game, Löw accused his team of lacking commitment and sharpness, and the performance having gone a goal down suggested deep-rooted problems are beginning to set in. They were slow, passive and completely disjointed, but everything changed two minutes into the second half when Reus deflected to ball into the bottom corner to level proceedings. In the dying embers, Kroos stepped up with a stoppage time freekick to get his side out of jail.
Jerome Boateng was all over the place in defence and eventually paid the price
Without Mats Hummels next to him, Jerome Boateng appeared to lose his discipline completely, running the ball out from the back and getting caught out. Antonio Rüdiger, his partner for the night, was no better. Kimmich and Hector were joining in on attacks, but leaving huge spaces in behind for Claesson and Forsberg to exploit; with very little pressure on the ball in the middle when they lost it, Sweden found it easy to play it over the top and get a run at Neuer. It was clear the Rudy injury shook Germany; he was off the pitch for almost five minutes receiving treatment for a nose injury, stopping the bleeding and finding a replacement shirt, before finally being taken off. Toivonen’s goal soon followed, with Rüdiger and Boateng culpable again.
After the break, the latter appeared to have found his feet somewhat, getting back to playing simple balls. Germany took control after Reus somewhat fortuitously restored parity; Kroos, who had been visibly frustrated by the situation with Rudy, grew in influence, helped by Gündogan at the base of the midfield. The crosses soon returned as Sweden naturally retreated; a more direct approach was working to great effect. Mario Gomez replaced Draxler and caused problems, while Müller and Reus went close to grabbing the lead, but Werner did look far from comfortable when moved out to the left. Disaster then struck with less than ten minutes remaining; Boateng was sent off for a second bookable offence, compounding his personal misery.
Berg and Toivonen kept Sweden’s shape but struggled to keep up their threat
As soon as Germany scored, Sweden’s attitude became all about defending which, to their credit, they did excellently. They were organised, keeping the shape even as the world champions turned up the heat after the break. Claesson, Forsberg, Toivonen and Berg were a constant thorn in Boateng and Rüdiger’s side in the first half, but they were forced further back as the minutes ticked by. Their counter attacking threat almost ceased to exist as they sacrificed themselves for the cause, but they kept the shape brilliantly.
It was obvious they were tiring; the defence may have played in a similar way all game, deep and with the instruction to reduce the space between themselves and the goal, but the midfield and attackers had twice the amount of running to do without getting forward after the break. They reduced Germany to few chances late on, Werner shot over the bar and Robin Olsen made some crucial saves, but Sweden now face Mexico knowing they may need to beat them, having been seconds away from needing a point.
Whatever happens next, Germany are at a crossroads
Typically, Germany have saved themselves; Kroos’ free kick papers over some cracks and delays some big questions. It may seem like a surprise, as it always is when the World Cup holders struggle, but Löw’s men ensured an awful warm up campaign for the tournament, while reports suggest all is not well in the camp right now. Löw has already said he will be staying beyond this summer, but there are serious questions as to whether that is a good thing for the country.
They are caught between eras; their current side is looking past its best, but the next generation is still undercooked. Still needing a win against South Korea, the hard work is still not over and Germany look far more beatable than anyone anticipated.
