Hungry Reus has a point to prove
TOUGH: WORLD CHAMPS CAN’T AFFORD MORE SLIP-UPS
Kazan
Marco Reus has no intention of allowing South Korea to get in the way of Germany progressing to the last-16 now that the World Cup holders have already saved their skins once.
Reus was a substitute in the 1-0 defeat to Mexico, but given a starting role against Sweden, he bundled in a 48th-minute leveller to drag Germany back into the game.
With seconds on the clock in Sochi, Germany secured a vital 2-1 win, thanks to Toni Kroos’ superb curling shot, with Reus setting it up. It meant Germany avoided the ignominy of becoming the sixth team to crash out as World Cup holders, but they are not safe yet.
While the exuberant, postmatch celebrations by Germany’s coaching staff upset Sweden, they belied the champions’ desire to show the rest of the world that their business in Russia is far from over.
And four years after Spain became the fifth champions sent packing after a disastrous groupstage campaign, Joachim Loew’s pre-tournament favourites could still be stopped at the first round.
The Germany team that won all 10 of their qualifiers with a whopping 39-plus goal difference has yet to convince many they deserve a place in the last-16.
Their path to the second round is littered with obstacles.
Although South Korea sit bottom of the group without a point following defeats to Mexico (2-1) and Sweden (1-0), all four teams can still qualify.
Germany will go through if they win by two or more goals against South Korea, who can qualify if they beat Germany and Sweden lose and they finish with a better goal difference.
If Germany and Sweden draw, the team in the higher-scoring game will finish second. If the matches finish with the same score, Germany will finish second because they beat Sweden.
After missing out on Brazil four years ago when Mario Gotze’s extra-time winner against Argentina handed Germany their fourth World Cup title, Reus arguably has more reason than most to make sure Die Mannschaft (The Team) avoid an early departure.
The Borussia Dortmund forward missed Brazil 2014 with torn ankle ligaments, Euro 2016 with a groin problem and Germany’s 2017 Confederations Cup triumph with torn knee ligaments.
“Of course, we played badly against Mexico and we had to face criticism, but we’ve been talking a bit too long about it in my opinion,” Reus told reporters. “We have to do our duty and win the game, preferably not by just 1-0 but higher.” –
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