Kroos keeps Die Mannschaft alive and kicking in Russia
In the aftermath to one of the most memorable victories in Germany’s long history of success, Toni Kroos and Marco Reus had a message for the critics back home waiting to see them fail.
“We got a lot of criticism and some of it was justified,” Kroos said. “We had the feeling that a lot of people in Germany would have been happy if we’d gone out today, but we don’t make it that easy.”
No, Germany didn’t make it easy. Nothing in this tournament has come easy for Die Mannschaft. Yet the Germans sit with three points after Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Sweden and a chance to avoid what befell Italy and Spain, the previous two defending champions who failed to advance from the group stage.
It’s all unexpected in a way. Germany’s lacklustre opening performance and loss against Mexico was unexpected. Falling behind the Swedes 1-0 at half-time was unexpected. And certainly after going down to ten men, Kroos’ curling strike in the fifth minute of stoppage time to secure Germany’s win was unexpected.
After nearly a week of hearing what was wrong with German football following the loss to Mexico, the defending champions were on the verge of an even louder uproar.
One moment, one strike changed it all.
“I think that’s an impression we have that many people in Germany were looking forward to us bowing out of the tournament here,” Reus said. “But I think we’ve shown a
MARCO REUS team spirit here despite Sweden going up 1-0. That was a setback and we had to digest that first but we knew we could claw our way back.”
If Kroos’ shot was deflected, a little too high, or didn’t have the perfect whipping curl, Germany would be sitting with one point, needing a victory from their last group game and a lot of help to keep alive a streak of making the knockout round in every World Cup since 1938.
But Kroos was perfect. The perfect pace. The perfect curl, the link-up play with Reus catching Sweden by surprise just enough that defenders and goalkeeper Robin Olsen were unable to react. It was the latest goal ever scored by Germany in a World Cup match that didn’t go to extra-time.
It also created chaos in Group F. What seemed straightforward deep into stoppage time was turned upside down. Mexico, who have been among the more impressive teams in the tournament with two wins, could be eliminated if they don’t get at least a draw against Sweden. Even South Korea, after two losses, could still advance with a win over Germany and help from Mexico. The situation will create a lot of scoreboard watching on Wednesday when Mexico and Sweden play in Ekaterinburg and Germany and South Korea meet in Kazan.
“We have to put our foot on the gas and take our chances,” Kroos said.
Head coach Joachim Low made four changes to the team against Sweden – including benching Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil for the first time in his senior team career in a major international tournament – and he will need to make some more for the next game.
An already shaky defence will be without Jerome Boateng, who picked up a red card, although Mats Hummels is expected back after missing the Sweden match with a neck injury. Defensive midfielder Sebastian Rudy is a doubt after he broke his nose when taking an inadvertent foot to the face in the first half.
“We have to take stock now and see what the situation is. The players at the end of the match, and that became very visible, were tired,” Low said. “We will probably require a day of rest, then we will start preparing for South Korea.” Sweden midfielder Jimmy Durmaz has launched an emotional attack on the racist abuse he has been subjected to in the wake of the 2-1 defeat by Germany.
Durmaz’s foul on Timo Werner allowed Toni Kroos to score a late winner, which left the Swedes facing an uphill task to qualify from Group F.
The 29-year-old, who was born in Sweden to Assyrian parents who had emigrated from Turkey, has since been the victim of vile abuse on social media, which has included threats against his family.
Yesterday, as the Sweden squad gathered for training, Durmaz, who was flanked by his teammates and manager Janne Andersson, read a statement to assembled media from a mobile phone.
After reading the statement, Durmaz, who plays his club football for Toulouse, turned to the rest of the squad, who all said: “f*** racism”.
The Swedish FA said it had reported the abuse and threats to the police.
“I am prepared to be criticised for what I do on the pitch,” the midfielder said. “That’s part of the job. But there is a limit.
“When you threaten me, when you call me ‘Arab devil’, ‘terrorist’, ‘Taliban’, then you have gone far beyond the limit. And even worse – when you go after my family, my children, threaten them. Who the hell does such a thing? It is completely unacceptable.”
“The impression we have is that many people in Germany were looking forward to us bowing out of the tournament here”