World Cup, Group F, Mexico vs Sweden as it happened: Granqvist, Augustinsson break the Mexican wall
A win for Janne Andersson’s side will take them to the brink of progression.
9:39 pm: To Sweden, this will feel like vindication after what happened when Sweden-Germany clashed.
9:34 pm: Here are the final results.
KOR 2-0 GER
MEX 0-3 SWE
9.30 pm: Germany lose, Mexico are through. Sweden top the group. No one would have expected this result from this group. Wow. This World Cup has been something.
FT! Sweden have won, they are through. They are top of the group. Germany have been knocked out. They are bottom of Group F. Korea have got another goal.
90’: And Korea have scored!!!!! A stoppage time winner for Korea. Madness. It was disallowed earlier but VAR came to Korea’s rescue.
87’: And what is the score in Kazan? Everyone is only bothered about that including the fans at the stadium.
87’: Things are pretty tense here. Mexican fans praying that Germany does not score now. The focus has almost completely shifted to the GER-KOR game. This one is done and dusted.
81’: Vela (11) misses from point blank range. Hernandez steadied himself and hit a good shot across the face of goal, Vela was waiting for the ball but instead of burying it, he ended up clearing it. There was, to be fair, a lot of pace on that shot. Not easy.
79’: Mexico fans can’t believe what if happening. Well, almost no one can. Sweden is not a team that usually wins by such margins.
74’: GOAAALL!! An own goal, it went off Alvarez into the goal. Unlucky but sometimes, you have to make your own luck. Mexico have been far too passive today and paid the price. Just not their day. Their fate is now in Korea’s hands.
73’: No one saw this coming. Sweden are now favourites to go through from this group. They have a superb GD (+2 at the moment) as well. It’s still 0-0 in the Germany-Korea game.
70’: Mexico are trying their hardest but they just haven’t got into the game today. The pace that makes them so deadly on the break has been sorely lacking today.
67’: That sinking feeling...
62’: Andreas Granqvist converts the penalty to make it 2-0 for Sweden. He looked tense before taking it but his shot (to the top right corner) was unstoppable. Wow. This makes it very, very interesting indeed.
60’: Sweden have a penalty!!! Berg won it, rash challenge from Moreno (who got a yellow for it). Can they convert?
56’ Larsson’s game is over. He is stretchered off the field and in comes the experienced Svensson.
50’: And we have a goal!!!!! Augustinsson, the left-back, doesn’t go forward very often. But here he was – and the ball took a fortunate path to him but there was nothing wrong with that finish. Pure class. Germany’s fate hangs in the balance now – if Sweden win, the defending champions are out.
46’: The second half begins. The last time Sweden won the third game of the group stage was way back in 1974.
HT: Given how poor their finishing has been, Sweden sure would have loved to have Zlatan involved but he has been upto some interesting things too.
HT: This is what the standings look like currently.
HT: It has been a strange half.
HT: Ochoa has been called into action many times in the half. Certainly a lot more than Olsen. But Sweden need a win – if both games (Swe-Mex and Ger-Kor) end in a draw, Germany will go through on the head-to-head result.
HT: Berg’s shot hits the side netting. Last touch from Sweden – they have been competitive but have lacked the finishing touch. Berg’s shot was a classic example of that.
40’: Still 0-0 here and in the GER-KOR match too but no one is holding back. Remember a draw will do for Mexico. Sweden need a win though.
38’: Mexico just hasn’t got going today. No pace in their attacks – not regularly anyway. Sweden will hope for better finishing from Forsberg, who has made a hash out of a number of chances.
33’: Sweden have looked very dangerous especially from set-pieces. Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa has made 16 saves this World Cup, which is the most among all goalkeepers and Sweden are keeping him busy as well.
29’: First VAR review of the game and Hernandez under scrutiny for a hand-ball. But the referee decided otherwise. The Sweden coach can’t believe it.
25’: High tackle by Larsson and he gets the deserved yellow. His second card of the group stage.
20’: Mexico have had a lot more possession but they have struggled to make their chances count. Sweden have look more dangerous going forward. Mexico have lost only two of their last 19 World Cup group stage matches – so they know what they are doing.
17’: Best chance of the game for Mexico, a defensive error gave Mexico some space and nice ball was play through to Vela – who found himself in space and the shot went just inches wide. It just didn’t curl back in enough. So closeee.
12’: Another shot by Sweden – nice header by Granqvist from the corner and Berg tried to turn it in via a bicycle kick. They have a plan – they are looking to attack the flanks and it seems to be working so far. Mexico’s full backs are struggling to cope with the size of the Swede’s at the moment.
10’: Tame shot for Layun goes out but some good movement from Mexico. Finally. They are capable of much more.
6’: Ochoa gathered a marginally outside ball, the referee gave a free kick and not a yellow card. The resulting free-kick by Frosberg was saved smartly by the keeper. Mexico are struggling to get out of their own half at the moment.
1’: And we have kick-off! This should be fun. Can Sweden go forward with confidence? A lot is going to depend on how they decide to go forward. The Swedes are, in general, a lot bigger than the Mexicans and they will look to take advantage of the set-pieces.
7:27 pm: Mexico are still not sure of going through but it will be interesting to see whether they sit back or go on the attack as they usually go. Mexico have progressed from the Group stage in the last 16 World Cups.
7:10 pm: A quick look at the Round 16 pairings so far...
6:42 pm: Mexico have never won three World Cup games in a row. The two teams have faced each other 10 times. Sweden have the edge with four wins, Mexico have two. The rest of the games ended in draws.
6:29 pm: It’s getting tricky in Group F. Once again, Germany’s chances of getting to the last-16 is on the line. Only a win by two goals can guarantee them of a spot in the knockout stages. That equation, of course, comes into play if Sweden win their final group stage game against Mexico.
Hello and welcome to the live updates of the final group F match between Sweden and Mexico. Sweden coach Janne Andersson must find a way to pick up his deflated players following their devastating defeat to Germany in a World Cup Group F that stands tantalisingly poised.
Sweden were on course for the last 16 until Toni Kroos stepped up with a wonderful winner in the fifth minute of injury time to rescue the reigning champions 2-1 in a Saturday-night thriller.
It left Group F on a knife-edge going into the final round of games on Wednesday. Sweden face Mexico in Ekaterinburg while at the same time Germany play South Korea in Kazan.
Sweden coach Janne Andersson must find a way to pick up his deflated players following their devastating defeat to Germany in a World Cup Group F that stands tantalisingly poised. It left Group F on a knife-edge going into the final round of games on Wednesday, when Sweden face Mexico in Yekaterinburg while at the same time Germany play South Korea in Kazan.
(With inputs from AFP)