Form found
Toni Kroos’ late penalty goal keeps Germany hopes alive
Despite their talent, their pedigree and their history, the Germans were seconds from likely missing the second round at a World Cup for the first time since William Lyon Mackenzie King held office.
Sweden needed just to defend a final play, a dead ball, to see out what would have been one of the great results in their country’s history at this tournament.
They’ll look back at Toni Kroos’ stoppage time free kick — a curling effort from an angle — and wonder how things could have been different.
Had Sweden’s two-man wall not broke apart it might have provided goalkeeper Robin Olsen a chance to make a point-saving stop that would have seen this Group F fixture finish at 1-1.
Instead, the defending champs bounced back — perhaps deservedly — following a stunning opening loss to Mexico to put this tournament on notice: Die Mannschaft remains the best team in Russia. And now they’re in control of their own destiny after staving off undoubted embarrassment.
It just took the defending champs three halves of World Cup soccer to find the form that saw them dominate UEFA World Cup qualifying.
The Germans had appeared beatable at this tournament, a side lacking the balance and sharpness that had seen them dominate the sport for two full cycles, if not a century.
They were in tough, even trailing for nearly an hour Saturday to a side known for its stinginess after knocking off Italy to get here.
But even this Sweden team couldn’t withstand Germany’s return to form after manager Joachim Low’s halftime talk reignited whatever was missing.
Die Mannschaft found another gear after the break: The ball movement was better and the decision-making a touch quicker.
Striker Timo Werner drifted wide and terrorized the right side of Sweden’s defence.
The Germans played with a kind of pace and purpose we hadn’t witnessed yet at this World Cup. They played with a kind of urgency we haven’t seen from them in multiple years.
“We didn’t lose our nerves. We didn’t start panicking after going down,” Low said.
“We kept a level head. We said we needed to make quick passing and cover the distance to make them tired. That’s what we were able to do.”
It was easy to forget the Germans were a man down through the final quarter-hour after Jerome Boateng rightfully received a second caution for a wild lunge.
Perhaps part of their return to greatness at this tournament is that you hardly noticed they were playing with the disadvantage.
“What I did appreciate was the spirit of the team,” Low added.
“We never lost hope that we could turn this around. It’s a result of our belief in ourselves and powering on.”
Just as Low had every right to pat himself on the back for pulling off just the second come-from-behind victory at this World Cup, Swedish coach Janne Andersson ques- tioned why his side wasn’t awarded a first half penalty.
Replays showed Boateng undoubtedly commit a third cautionable offence inside the box when he tripped up Marcus Berg on a breakaway.
“If we had got the penalty, that’s possibly what we would have needed,” Andersson said post-game.
“The margins were against us to that extent.
“I don’t want to be tough in my criticism until I see it with my own eyes but I trust my colleagues who say this was a clear penalty,” Andersson later added.
It was a baffling decision from Polish referee Marciniak Szymon and his crew of video assistant referees who despite having the benefit of replay didn’t advise Szymon to review the incident.
Andersson also showed frustration with a German bench he accused of celebrating and making gestures toward Sweden’s bench at full-time.
“That really got me annoyed and angry,” he said. “When the final whistle blows you shake hands and leave.”
It doesn’t appear the defending champs are going anywhere. However, a possible rematch with Brazil awaits in the Round of 16.
“There are various possible outcomes,” Low said. “Switzerland and Serbia have good chances to advance. We have to play against South Korea to be sure we’ll make it to the next round.
“Then everything is open and we’ll take it from there.”