Football, bloody hell. Germany’s game against Sweden was a cardiac hazard, not for the faint-hearted. Down and out for the count, the Germans, as they always do, went ahead and won the game. They always seem to, don’t they?
They couldn’t have made it tougher for themselves even if they wanted to. They were first a goal down, then a man down, but they pulled through and now seemingly, are on course to make the Round of 16 once again, should they beat South Korea in their final match.
It started badly for Die Nationalmannschaft after an opening game loss to Mexico, and it seemed as if that hang-over would continue for another match, as Sweden shocked the defending champions by opening the scoring.
Toni Kroos gave the ball away cheaply as Ola Toivonen raced clear, and finished with aplomb, lobbing Manuel Neuer in goal. That left the Germans staring at a group stage exit for the first time since, wait for it, 1938!
Marco Reus, so unlucky with injuries and in his first World Cup start, dragged Germany back into the game with a quick goal after half-time as Sweden saw their momentum evaporate. In the 95th minute of the game, it was that man Kroos, who struck a free-kick and a dagger into Sweden’s heart and kept Germany’s World Cup hopes alive.
Twitter went berserk after the match with German resilience surprising football fans worldwide.
We win together.
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) June 23, 2018
We draw together.
We lose together.
We are #ZSMMN! 🇩🇪#DieMannschaft #GERSWE 2-1 pic.twitter.com/ExXXZ13p38
It ain't over 'til it's over! @ToniKroos wins it for #GER with a spectacular stoppage time strike.#GERSWE #WorldCup @DFB_Team_EN pic.twitter.com/RM373mMDDZ
— Getty Images Sport (@GettySport) June 23, 2018
What ... a ... moment. What ... a ... game. What ... a ... sport. #worldcup
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) June 23, 2018
Nooooooooo waaaaaaaaaay. CLUTCH CLUTCH CLUTCH KLUTCH KRUTCH KROOCH KROOS KROOS KROOS
— Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan13) June 23, 2018
I follow soccer never. But the #WorldCup is so insanely intense I get drawn in every four years. Hard to replicate that kinda of heart-stopping drama we just saw.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 23, 2018
You can never write the Germans off ! Wow 👏 What a last minute stunner by Germany & what a Goal⚽️ Hard luck Sweden. #GERvSWE #Kroos #Goal #lastminute #footballfever #FifaWorldCup2018
— Preity G Zinta (@realpreityzinta) June 23, 2018
Germany finally in Kroos control !!!
— Shaan (@singer_shaan) June 23, 2018
Never write off Germany. Ever. 🇩🇪 #GERSWE
— James Melville (@JamesMelville) June 23, 2018
'Perseverance, that's what champions do.'
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) June 23, 2018
Spot on, Roy Keane.
Germany never give up - damn them.
In an uncertain world you can always rely on Germany to pull a win out of thin air, despite having a player sent off they score with time running out, incredible to watch, though l felt sorry for Sweden #GERSWE
— Angela Rayner (@AngelaRayner) June 23, 2018
My favourite teams are testing my blood pressure. Double phew Germany!!!
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) June 23, 2018
Toni Kroos - Germany’s Houdini. What drama.
— Ian Darke (@IanDarke) June 23, 2018
There was, of course, humour as well.
The Swedish defender who committed the foul has probably cost about 4-5 teams in the tournament by letting Germany through. That’s the real shame.
— Hesham Bilal-Hafiz (@hesham786) June 23, 2018
Kroos could find my Dad with a football and I haven't seen him since I was 5.
— Footy Humour (@FootyHumour) June 23, 2018
5 Stages of Swedish Reaction to Loss to Germany
— Christian Christensen (@ChrChristensen) June 23, 2018
1. Mild disappointment
2. Acceptance
3. Recycling
4. Coffee
5. Off to the summer house#WorldCup #GERSWE
Every BMW and Mercedes Benz owner in Sweden right now #GERSWE pic.twitter.com/ZJPPqhNzOg
— Cris Ramón (@CramonBPC) June 23, 2018
My favourite thing about that game was the commentators spending 90 minutes doubting Germany then screaming "NEVER DOUBT THE GERMANS" after Kroos' goal #GERSWE
— Natasha 🏳️🌈 (@NatashaNUFC) June 23, 2018
Me watching Germany score a second goal in the last minute #GERSWE pic.twitter.com/x4pKij7Wrz
— lei 🍒 (@itsneverthend) June 23, 2018
Germany scoring in the last minute to ensure they can progress from their #WorldCup group got me like... 😭 #GERSWE pic.twitter.com/3w8WYppNow
— Coquelin (@LeCoqueliin) June 23, 2018
Germany's 95th minute goal is a real representation of how university students submit assignments 😂#GERSWE
— Kavani_ (@evanskiiva) June 23, 2018
Germany haters Right now:
— Omar. 🇩🇪 (@itx_omar) June 23, 2018
#GERSWE pic.twitter.com/Lc6TA2Uasp
This was a bit random... but, hey!
Cristiano: Carrying Portugal all by himself.
— Muhammad Fahad. (@TheCristianoGuy) June 23, 2018
Modric: Back to back MOTM awards with Croatia.
Kroos: Beautiful free kick to keep Germany in the #WorldCup
Isco: MOTM award with Spain.
Nacho: World class goal against Portugal.
Real Madrid conquered Europe and now the World Cup. pic.twitter.com/DRZtDVOCXz
Ultimately though...
Football is a simple game, 22 men chase the ball for 82 minutes and the Germans get a player sent off so 21 men chase the ball for 13 minutes and at the end the Germans somehow fucking win.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 23, 2018
Three certainties in life:
— Sid Seixeiro (@Sid_Seixeiro) June 23, 2018
Death.
Taxes.
Germany finds a way. #GermanyvsSweden
Never in doubt
— Raphael Honigstein (@honigstein) June 23, 2018