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Mesut Ozil skips past Koo Ja-Cheol. AFP/Getty Images
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: South Korea v Germany, World Cup, Group F

The holders were aiming to book their place in the knockout stages, but their opponents, Mexico and Sweden were all still in contention.

TONI KROOS’ PERFECTLY-executed free-kick at the death sealed Germany’s first win of the 2018 finals against Sweden, and kept the 2014 champions in contention for a place in the last 16.

Group F Twitter / FIFAWorldCup Twitter / FIFAWorldCup / FIFAWorldCup Source: Twitter/FIFAWorldCup

Joachim Low’s men take on South Korea this afternoon and know they will earn a safe passage through to the knockout stages if they at least match Sweden’s result against Mexico. A win by two clear goals or more also guarantees the Germans progression.

Mexico only need a draw to go through, and they will qualify as group winners if they overcome the Swedes or if Germany fail to win. Sweden must better Germany’s result and they can claim top spot if they also win.

Draws in both games would see qualification come down to goals scored.

South Korea, on zero points, need to see off the Germans, hope Mexico see off Sweden, and end the group stages on better goal difference than Germany and Sweden.

So there you have it.

Low makes five changes to his team, and the big news is that Thomas Muller has been dropped, along with Antonio Rudiger and Sebastian Rudy. Jerome Boateng is suspended after his red card in the last outing, while Sebastian Rudy fractured his nose during the same game.

In come Mesut Ozil, Sami Khedira, Mats Hummels, Leon Goretzka and Niklas Sule.

The South Koreans, meanwhile, make four switches in personnel.

Germany: Neuer, Hector, Hummels, Sule, Kimmich, Khedira, Kroos, Ozil, Goretzka, Werner, Reus.

 

South Korea: Cho Hyun-Woo, Lee Yong, Yun Young-Sun, Kim Young-Gwon, Hong Chul; Lee Jae-Sung, Jung Woo-Young, Jang Hyun-Soo, Moon Seon-Min, Koo Ja-Cheol, Son Heung-Min.

Kick-off - Germany, in their green change strip, get us going. South Korea wearing red and black.

The South Koreans have been positive in the opening minutes and Germany have some defending to do early on.

In Yekaterinburg, Sweden have come close with a curling free-kick from Emile Forsberg, but Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is equal to the effort.

Germany taking control now and spreading the play from left to right and back again. They win a free-kick in a dangerous area, and Kroos sweeps the ball into the box but it’s headed away.

Germany defender Mats Hummels clears with team-mate Toni Kroos and South Korea captain Son Heung-Min close by.

FBL-WC-2018-MATCH43-KOR-GER AFP / Getty Images AFP / Getty Images / Getty Images

That could have proved costly! Jung’s free-kick is spilled by Neuer and, with players rushing in, the German number one recovers well to punch away.

More pressure from the Koreans… The ball is crossed into the box and it comes back out as far as captain Son. The Tottenham forward connects with a volley, but it’s sliced high and wide.

Germany respond with an attack, which ends in Yun Young-Sun heading Werner’s ball behind for a corner. The defender is now down receiving treatment.

VAR KLAXON – The referee in Mexico v Sweden, Nestor Pitana of Argentina, has gone over to his touchline monitor to see if Javier Hernandez handled the ball in the box.

However, he decides it’s not a penalty and awards the corner to Sweden. Looked the right call.

Werner has a shot that’s deflected out for a corner. The resulting set piece falls to the same player, but he and Hummels are both snuffed out while attempting shots.

There’s been a bit of World Cup history made at the Ekaterinburg Arena…

Yellow Twitter / OptaJean Twitter / OptaJean / OptaJean

Half-times: 

  • South Korea 0-0 Germany
  • Mexico 0-0 Sweden

FBL-WC-2018-MATCH44-MEX-SWE Three Mexican fans pay tribute to Jorge Campos' iconic goalkeeper jersey. AFP / Getty Images AFP / Getty Images / Getty Images

Second half – And we’re back.

SAVE! South Korean goalkeeper Cho keeps out Goretzka’s header with a fine stop.

GOAL SWEDEN! Ludwig Augustinsson has fired the Swedes into a 1-0 lead against Mexico and, as it stands, they’re both going through at the expense of Germany.

Would he have made the difference? This Germany side have been well below-par yet again.

German change – Mario Gomez is on in place of Khedira. They need a goal.

PENALTY TO SWEDEN!

GOAL! Mexico 0-2 Sweden (Andreas Granqvist) 

The defender dispatches from 12 yards after Moreno’s foul on Berg.

So, if we were to finish this way, Sweden would top Group F and Mexico would finish second. However, a single goal for Germany would see them replace Mexico in runners-up.

GOAL! Mexico 0-3 Sweden (Edson Alvarez own goal) 

The Swedes are having a field-day here. A throw-in is turned home shambolically by Alvarez.

This is getting real… Germany have 10 minutes to score or they’re heading home.

WAS THAT THE CHANCE? Ozil sends in a beautiful cross and Hummels is in the right place, but gets it all wrong — connecting with his shoulder to miss the target completely.

Kroos drills a shot at goal from the edge of the box. However, Cho gets down to collect. Time is running out… fast.

Six minutes of time added on to play here.

GOAL SOUTH KOREA! Wait, we need VAR to have a look.

After a lengthy wait, they’ve been awarded it and the Germans are about to be eliminated. Wow.

GOAL SOUTH KOREA! With Neuer up in the opposing half, the ball is punted down field and Son taps home into an empty net.

This is mad stuff.

Full-times: 

  • South Korea 2-0 Germany
  • Mexico 0-3 Sweden

 

Sweden and Mexico go through from Group F, while 2014 champions Germany are OUT of the competition.

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