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Sochi, Russia (AP) As a result of one of the most memorable victories in Germany's long history of success, Toni Kroos and Marco Reus sent a message to critics while waiting to see them fail .
"We received a lot of criticism and some of it was justified," Kroos said. "We had the feeling that a lot of people in Germany would have been happy if we had gone out today, but we are not doing it so easily."
No, Germany did not make it easy. Nothing in this tournament has been easy for Die Mannschaft. Still, the Germans count three points after Saturday 's 2-1 win over Sweden and a chance to avoid what happened in Italy and Spain, the two previous defending champions who n & #' s 39 failed to break out of the group stage.
Everything is unexpected in one way. Germany's poor opening performance and defeat against Mexico was unexpected. Falling behind the Swedes 1-0 at half-time was unexpected. And certainly after rising to 10-man, Kroos' curling shot in the fifth minute of the time off to ensure Germany's victory was unexpected.
After almost a week of hearing, which did not go into German football following the defeat against Mexico, the defending champions were on the verge of even greater turmoil.
One moment, a strike changed everything.
"I think we have the impression that a lot of people in Germany are looking forward to withdrawing from the tournament," Reus said. "But I think we showed a team spirit here, despite Sweden 1-0 – it was a setback but we had to digest that first, but we knew we could go back. "
If Kroos' shot was deflected, a bit too high, or did not have the perfect whip loop, Germany would sit with a point, needing a win over his last group match and a lot of help to maintain a series of the knockout round in every World Cup since 1938.
But Kroos was perfect. The perfect rhythm. The perfect loop, the game combined with Reus surprised Sweden by surprise that defenders and goalkeeper Robin Olsen could not react. It was the last goal ever scored by Germany in a World Cup match that did not extend.
It also created chaos in group F. What seemed to go straight to the point in the game stops was turned upside down. Mexico, which has been among the most impressive teams in the tournament with two wins, could be eliminated if it does not get at least a draw against Sweden. Even South Korea after two defeats could still advance with a win over Germany and Mexico 's help. The situation will create a lot of billboards on Wednesday when Mexico and Sweden play in Yekaterinburg and Germany and South Korea will meet in Kazan.
"We have to step on the gas and try our luck," Kroos said.
The coach of Germany Joachim Loew will use against South Korea will still be different. Loew made four changes in the lineup against Sweden, including lining up Mesut Ozil for the first time in his senior team career in a major international tournament. The movements finally seemed to bear fruit, especially the decision to insert Reus into the lineup and let him attack from the midfield.
There will be even more changes against South Korea. What has already been a fragile defense will be without Jerome Boateng, who took a red card. Although Loew expects Mats Hummels after missing the Sweden match with a neck injury. It was the combo of Hummels and Boateng that showed the vulnerability against Mexico, and the pairing of Boateng and Antonio Ruediger was also unstable against the Swedes.
Germany could do without the defensive midfielder Sebastian Rudy who broke his nose after inadvertently taking a foot in the first half.
"We have to take stock now and see what the situation is, the players at the end of the match, who became very visible, were tired," said Loew. "We will have to take stock and look at the situation. We will probably need a rest day and then we will begin to prepare for South Korea. "
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More coverage of the AP World Cup: www.apnews.com/tag/WorldCup
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