Low keen to keep fate in Germany hands

Joachim Low is determined Germany will prove masters of their own fate by getting the result they need in their final group match against South Korea in Kazan today.

The reigning champions secured a dramatic 2-1 win over Sweden with a Toni Kroos strike in stoppage time, which put them back on course after losing their opener against Mexico.

Germany can guarantee qualification if they beat South Korea by at least two goals, with Sweden, who also have three points, having to hope results go their way to progress.

Low does not want to leave anything out of his team’s control.

“I am not one who plays through the different scenarios. Of course, I will be informed about the score between Mexico and Sweden in order to react if necessary, but we have to create clarity with our own result,” he said at a press conference.

“We have to win if possible with two goals difference. It’s up to our own performance and we have to do everything we can to do it on our own.”

Germany will be without suspended defender Jerome Boateng following his red card against Sweden, while midfielder Sebastian Rudy will not feature after surgery on a broken nose picked up in Sochi.

Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil could be drafted back in, while fit-again Mats Hummels should play at centre-half.

Sweden hope to use their frustration from the Germany defeat against the Mexicans.

Captain Andreas Granqvist admitted that the way some of the Germany staff reacted left a sour taste.

“I’ve seen the images, we heard from players and leaders afterwards that the behaviour was very poor on behalf of the Germans,” the defender added.

“We show our strength as a team and we hope to get everything out on the pitch tomorrow.”

Had Kroos not struck late on against the Swedes, Mexico would already be through.

Yet, despite claiming full points so far, there remains a possibility they could be knocked out if they lose to Sweden.

Striker Javier Hernandez said: “We still haven’t qualified but who would have said we would have had six points by now in this group? I try to look at things very positively.”