WC: Germany 2-1 Sweden

Toni Kroos and Marco Reus spared Germany's World Cup blushe

Germany breathed new life into their World Cup defence after Toni Kroos' dramatic injury time winner secured a 2-1 comeback victory over Sweden in Sochi.

Knowing anything but victory would make it difficult for them to qualify from Group F, the defending champions found themselves behind after Ola Toivonen's 32nd-minute strike.

Germany were back on level terms immediately after the restart through Marco Reus (48) but three points were seemingly slipping away from Joachim Low's side, especially after Jerome Boateng was sent off in the 82nd minute after two bookable offences.

 

However, Kroos produced a moment of magic in the final minute of stoppage time to get Germany's World Cup defence back on track and break Swedish hearts.

Victory leaves Germany knowing a win over South Korea in their final group match will almost certainly see them progress with Sweden facing Mexico, who won earlier in the day.

 

Germany started like a side with a point to prove following their 1-0 defeat to Mexico last weekend and they created an early opening as Timo Werner's cross picked out Reus, but the Borussia Dortmund forward's shot was blocked by Sebastian Larsson.

Low's side were dominating the ball in the early stages but just as against Mexico, they were given an early warning on the counter-attack as Marcus Berg raced away from Jerome Boateng, but the striker, who was seemingly pushed by the Bayern Munich defender, saw his shot saved by Manuel Neuer. Sweden were adamant they should have had a penalty but Polish referee Szymon Marciniak waved away the appeals and refused to consult VAR.

 

It was a warning Germany, who replaced the injured Sebastian Rudy with Ilkay Gundogan in the 30th minute, didn't heed as Sweden took the lead. Viktor Claesson's inch-perfect ball over the top picked out Toivonen, who brought the ball down on his chest before lifting it over a stranded Neuer.

Germany, who were now staring down the barrel of an early exit, almost hit back straight away but Robin Olsen pulled off a superb double save to keep out Gundogan's deflected shot and Thomas Muller's rebound.

 

Sweden welcomed back Manchester United centre-back Victor Lindelof after he missed the 1-0 victory over the Koreans due to illness. He replaced Pontus Jansson.

However, it could have been even worse for Low and his side with Neuer needing to be at his best to keep out Berg's powerful header on the stroke of half-time.

With their World Cup hopes slipping away Mario Gomez replaced Julian Draxler at half-time and within 90 seconds Germany were level when Reus bundled Timo Werner's cross into the back of the net for his first international goal in more than three years.

 

Reus went close to a second, missing an attempted backheel by inches after being picked out on the six-yard box by Joshua Kimmich's cross.

Germany started to sense their opportunity, pinning Sweden back but a second yellow card for Boateng saw them play the last eight minutes with 10 men.

Olsen then produced a brilliant save to tip Gomez's header over the bar and substitute Julian Brandt's long-range strike crashed against the post, but Kross stepped up at the death to revive Germany's World Cup hopes.