Germany manager Joachim Loew was left wondering all week how his world champions would react to their opening loss to Mexico. The answer was a 2-1 victory over Sweden with 10 men at the end — a result the coach hopes is a signal of things to come. At a goal down, Germany were facing World Cup elimination with a match to spare.
But Loew’s men rose to the challenge and came back for Toni Kroos to score a winner deep into stoppage time. “It was a little bit lucky in the stoppage time and with 10 men. But I think it was deserved. We believed in ourselves,” Loew said. “It can be a good signal. Maybe the team needs something like that.”
The tough win over Sweden was just the first step though. Germany now know a win by two goals or more against South Korea in Kazan on Wednesday will put them through. Any other result then depends on the outcome of the match between Sweden and Mexico in Yekaterinburg. All four teams still have a chance of advancing.
“You have to keep dreaming,” German forward Thomas Mueller said. “This could be the final switch of momentum we need.” When asked what is possible for this Germany team, Mueller said: “Everything is possible — from the worst case to the greatest of emotions.”
Mueller said the match was far from perfect but it was a good answer to the Mexico loss “It showed a little bit our weaknesses but not as much as against Mexico,” Mueller said. “We just have to work our way step by step into the tournament.”
Kroos said: “We don’t have much time until the next match. But we have to beat South Korea and convincingly because there are constellations where not even a victory would be enough,” he said.
“So we have to go after it from the first minute and step on the gas.” Loew will have to replace central defender Jerome Boateng, who was dismissed in the 82nd minute following a second booking. Mats Hummels, his partner in defence who missed the game with a back problem, should return, Loew said. Midfielder Sebastian Rudy will also have to be assessed after suffering a fractured nose. Loew had left out midfielders Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira, but said both would be needed again during the tournament.
“It is obvious that not always one team plays at a World Cup. We have alternatives, that’s how the squad is set up,” he said. “The players who didn’t play this time will definitely be needed because they are important players. Today we decided to rest Khedira and Oezil but we will continue to need both.”
Germany’s midfielder Toni Kroos (L) is congratulated by coach Joachim Loew in Sochi on Saturday.
