Germany Secures Chance for FIFA World Cup Playoff Against Sweden in Last Seconds

Defending champions Germany salvaged a dramatic 2-1 victory over Sweden in the team's second and a key Group F match at the FIFA World Cup on Saturday.
Sputnik

Striker Ola Toivonen chipped the ball over goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to give Sweden the lead in the 32nd minute, while Germany managed to equalize at the beginning of the second half though striker Marco Reus.

In the 82nd minute, the German side suffered another blow when defender Jerome Boateng was sent off after picking up two yellow cards. However, the team still managed to score its second five minutes into stoppage time thanks to midfielder Toni Kroos.

World Cup - Group F - Germany vs Sweden - Fisht Stadium, Sochi, Russia - June 23, 2018

Mexico Beats FIFA 2014 Champion Germany 1-0 at FIFA World Cup in Russia
Germany head coach Joachim Low said Friday that Sweden was a "dangerous" team due to the unity they have within their squad. 

This is the first time in years, when midfielder Mesut Ozil has not been in the starting XI: he and his teammate Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil have been omitted from Germany’s squad for their second match. 

Sweden defeated South Korea 1-0 in their first match of the tournament, while Germany, the winner of the World Cup 2014, suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat to Mexico.

World Cup - Group F - Germany vs Sweden - Fisht Stadium, Sochi, Russia - June 23, 2018

A total of 44,287 fans attended the FIFA World Cup match between Germany and Sweden in Sochi on Saturday. 

The 44,287-seater Fisht Stadium, which was built for the 2014 Winter Olympics, has already hosted the match between Spain and Portugal, which ended in a 3-3 draw with 43,866 fans attending, and the encounter of Panama and Belgium, which ended in a 3-0 victory to Belgium

World Cup - Group F - Germany vs Sweden - Fisht Stadium, Sochi, Russia - June 23, 2018

FC Borussia Dortmund Striker and German's Squad forward Marco Reus was named the man of the match. Reus scored the equalizer for Germany in the 48th minute getting his side back in the game after Sweden’s Ola Toivonen opened the scoring in the first half.

Germany are currently second in Group F, three points behind Mexico.

Mexico, who are currently leaders in Group F with six points, are set to play against Sweden on Wednesday in their last group-stage match.

World Cup - Group F - Germany vs Sweden - Fisht Stadium, Sochi, Russia - June 23, 2018

The 2018 FIFA World Cup kicked off on June 14 and will continue until July 15, with the matches being played in 11 cities across Russia.

 

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