Day of World Cup reckoning for Germany

MOSCOW — Germany face their day of reckoning at the World Cup early today with the holders needing a clear win over South Korea to be sure of reaching the last 16.

Joachim Loew’s team hope to follow in the footsteps of Argentina after the 2014 World Cup finalists scraped into the last 16 after a dramatic 2-1 win over Nigeria on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the focus falls on four-time winners Germany, who must beat South Korea by two or more goals in Kazan to guarantee advancing after a shaky start in Russia.

The Germans stumbled to a shock 1-0 defeat to Mexico, then needed a stunning 95th-minute winning goal from Toni Kroos with 10 men to beat Sweden 2-1 and keep alive fading hopes of progressing.

“We have to be masters of our own destiny,” said Germany head coach Loew.

However, Germany’s path to the second round is littered with obstacles as all four Group F teams can still qualify.

Even bottom side South Korea can go through by beating Germany if Sweden lose to Mexico in Ekaterinburg, providing the Koreans finish with a better goal difference than their rivals.

South Korea coach Shin Tae-yong says his team have just a “one percent chance” of beating Germany and even star forward Son Heung-min played down their chances of an upset.

Should the Germans qualify as Group F runners-up, they potentially face a mouth-watering last 16 clash against Brazil in Samara on Monday.

PRESSURE ON NEYMAR

Things are more straightfoward in Group E, where Brazil need just a point against Serbia in Moscow on Wednesday to be sure of reaching the last 16.

Victory will confirm them as group winners, but Brazil head coach Tite is warning their under-fire superstar Neymar cannot be expected to win the World Cup on his own.

The world’s most expensive player, who battled back from a fractured metatarsal to be fit for Russia, took plenty of flak despite scoring in the 2-0 victory over Costa Rica last Friday.

Both Brazil goals came in added time and Neymar wept after netting their second, but was later accused of diving after the video assistant referee over-turned a penalty awarded to him when replays showed there was no contact.

“There is an excessive responsibility on him in terms of success and that is not the way to go,” said Tite.

“Maybe we need one more match and he will be in his full form physically and technically, because he is outside the normal standards.”

Should Neymar and Brazil stumbled in Moscow, Switzerland are hoping a win over Costa Rica in Nizhny Novgorod on Wednesday could catapult them into the last 16 as Group E winners. —