Russia 2018
Germany ousted, Brazil take care of business
(FIFA.com)
27 Jun 2018
- Defending champions eliminated at the group stage for the third tournament in a row
- Brazil, Switzerland, Sweden and Mexico all advance to the Round of 16
- KOR 2-0 GER l MEX 0-3 SWE l SRB 0-2 BRA l SUI 2-2 CRC
DAY REPLAYED – There are some things that are never supposed to change: the sky is blue, water is wet and Germany are always there or thereabouts in the latter stages of the FIFA World Cup™. On Thursday morning, football fans the world over may be giving the sky a quick check, because for the first time since a group stage was introduced to the tournament, Die Mannschaft have failed to extricate themselves from it.
Defeated 2-0 by a determined Korea Republic side, the Germans join Italy (1950, 2010), Brazil (1966), France (2002) and Spain (2014) in the undesirable club of reigning champions, who have failed to advance to the knockout stages. The Taeguk Warriors’ victory, secured by two goals in stoppage time, is the first by an Asian team versus Germany in seven attempts at the World Cup, although it did not save them from elimination, because in the other match in Group F, Sweden motored to a well-deserved 3-0 win over Mexico.
At the mercy of a German goal for a significant period of their match, the Mexican fans appeared resigned to their fate, waiting for Gary Lineker’s famous quote – “Football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win” – to come true yet again. But this time, it was not to be.
Upon hearing that Korea Republic had scored, El Tri’s relieved supporters jumped for joy, almost forgetting the footballing lesson handed to them by Sweden in Ekaterinburg, in a match that featured the seventh own goal of Russia 2018 – a tournament record – and a second successful penalty from Andreas Granqvist. A statistic they are unlikely to forget, however, is that Mexico have now qualified for the second round for the seventh successive time.
The Swedes – who ended up as group winners – and Mexicans will now respectively face Switzerland and Brazil, who both stamped their tickets for the last 16 with a minimum of fuss. A Seleçao clinched a 2-0 win over Serbia, the opening goal coming courtesy of Paulinho, his 13th on the international stage and his eighth since Tite took up the reins and re-opened the door to the box-to-box midfielder.
La Nati, meanwhile, only needed a point, which they duly acquired against a hard-working Costa Rica team that had already been eliminated. The CONCACAF representatives at least gained the satisfaction of finally scoring in Russia, their goals in the 2-2 draw coming courtesy of Kendall Waston and a Yann Sommer own goal.
Gallery: Mexico 0-3 Sweden
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![Mexico v Sweden: Andreas Granqvist of Sweden celebrates with teammates Viktor Claesson and Emil Forsberg]()
Mexico v Sweden: Andreas Granqvist of Sweden celebrates with teammates Viktor Claesson and Emil Forsberg
27 Jun 2018
YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 27: Andreas Granqvist of Sweden celebrates with teammates Viktor Claesson and Emil Forsberg after scoring his team's second goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group F match between Mexico and Sweden at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 27, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Mexico v Sweden: Ludwig Augustinsson of Sweden celebrates after scoring]()
Mexico v Sweden: Ludwig Augustinsson of Sweden celebrates after scoring
27 Jun 2018
YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 27: Ludwig Augustinsson of Sweden celebrates after scoring his team's first goal with teammates during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group F match between Mexico and Sweden at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 27, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Mexico v Sweden: Andreas Granqvist of Sweden celebrates with teammates Viktor Claesson and Albin Ekdal]()
Mexico v Sweden: Andreas Granqvist of Sweden celebrates with teammates Viktor Claesson and Albin Ekdal
27 Jun 2018
YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 27: Andreas Granqvist of Sweden celebrates with teammates Viktor Claesson and Albin Ekdal after scoring his team's second goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group F match between Mexico and Sweden at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 27, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Mexico v Sweden: Ludwig Augustinsson of Sweden celebrates]()
Mexico v Sweden: Ludwig Augustinsson of Sweden celebrates
27 Jun 2018
YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 27: Ludwig Augustinsson of Sweden celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group F match between Mexico and Sweden at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 27, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Mexico v Sweden: Ludwig Augustinsson of Sweden scores]()
Mexico v Sweden: Ludwig Augustinsson of Sweden scores
27 Jun 2018
YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 27: Ludwig Augustinsson of Sweden scores his team's first goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group F match between Mexico and Sweden at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 27, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Mexico v Sweden: Viktor Claesson of Sweden is challenged by Jesus Gallardo of Mexico]()
Mexico v Sweden: Viktor Claesson of Sweden is challenged by Jesus Gallardo of Mexico
27 Jun 2018
YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 27: Viktor Claesson of Sweden is challenged by Jesus Gallardo of Mexico during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group F match between Mexico and Sweden at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 27, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Photo by Mike Hewitt - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Mexico v Sweden: Ludwig Augustinsson of Sweden]()
Mexico v Sweden: Ludwig Augustinsson of Sweden
27 Jun 2018
YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 27: Ludwig Augustinsson of Sweden celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group F match between Mexico and Sweden at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 27, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Photo by David Ramos - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Mexico v Sweden: Javier chicharito Hernande is chased by Emil Forsberg]()
Mexico v Sweden: Javier chicharito Hernande is chased by Emil Forsberg
27 Jun 2018
YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 27: Javier chicharito Hernande is chased by Emil Forsberg of Sweden during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group F match between Mexico and Sweden at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 27, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Mexico v Sweden: Andreas Granqvist of Sweden checks]()
Mexico v Sweden: Andreas Granqvist of Sweden checks
27 Jun 2018
YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 27: Andreas Granqvist of Sweden checks conditions of teammate Albin Ekdal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group F match between Mexico and Sweden at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 27, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Mexico v Sweden: Albin EKDAL challenge for the ball with Hector Herrera of Mexico]()
Mexico v Sweden: Albin EKDAL challenge for the ball with Hector Herrera of Mexico
27 Jun 2018
YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 27: sew8 challenge for the ball with Hector Herrera of Mexico during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group F match between Mexico and Sweden at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 27, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Mexico v Sweden: Fans of Mexico react in the stands]()
Mexico v Sweden: Fans of Mexico react in the stands
27 Jun 2018
YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 27: Fans of Mexico react in the stands during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group F match between Mexico and Sweden at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 27, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Mexico v Sweden: Victor Lindelof of Sweden jumps to control the ball]()
Mexico v Sweden: Victor Lindelof of Sweden jumps to control the ball
27 Jun 2018
YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 27: Victor Lindelof of Sweden jumps to control the ball during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group F match between Mexico and Sweden at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 27, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Mexico v Sweden: Mexico team form a huddle prior]()
Mexico v Sweden: Mexico team form a huddle prior
27 Jun 2018
YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 27: Mexico team form a huddle prior to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group F match between Mexico and Sweden at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 27, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Mexico v Sweden: Viktor Claesson of Sweden is challenged by Jesus Gallardo of Mexico]()
Mexico v Sweden: Viktor Claesson of Sweden is challenged by Jesus Gallardo of Mexico
27 Jun 2018
YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 27: Viktor Claesson of Sweden is challenged by Jesus Gallardo of Mexico during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group F match between Mexico and Sweden at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 27, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Photo by Mike Hewitt - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Mexico v Sweden: Albin Ekdal of Sweden tackles Carlos Vela]()
Mexico v Sweden: Albin Ekdal of Sweden tackles Carlos Vela
27 Jun 2018
YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 27: Albin Ekdal of Sweden tackles Carlos Vela of Mexico during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group F match between Mexico and Sweden at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 27, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
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![Mexico v Sweden: Ludwig Augustinsson of Sweden scores his team's first]()
Mexico v Sweden: Ludwig Augustinsson of Sweden scores his team's first
27 Jun 2018
YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 27: Ludwig Augustinsson of Sweden scores his team's first goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group F match between Mexico and Sweden at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 27, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
Did you know?
2 – Despite recording 72 shots on goal, the Germans only found the net twice in three matches during the Russia 2018 group phase – a success rate of just three per cent. Both goals came in the same match, in their 2-1 victory over Sweden.
Tomorrow’s matches
28 June
Japan v Poland, Group H, Volgograd
Senegal v Colombia, Group H, Samara
Panama v Tunisia, Group G, Saransk
England v Belgium, Group G, Kaliningrad
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