South Korea 2-0 Germany
Defending champions Germany have been eliminated from the 2018 World Cup after losing to South Korea in Kazan. Kim Young-gwon’s 92nd-minute goal, awarded after a video assistant referee decision, left four-time winner Germany on the brink of elimination.
Then six minutes into stoppage time, with goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in the opponents’ half, South Korea gained control of the ball, launched it forward and Son Heung-min tapped into an empty net to score the second and seal Germany’s fate. It is the first time since 1938 that a Germany or West Germany side has not advanced beyond the first section of the tournament, as Joachim Low’s side finish bottom of Group F.
Mexico 0-3 Sweden
Sweden switched the second gear in the second half and scored three unanswered goals past an error-prone Mexico to storm into the finals as group leaders.
No one expected the Swedes, without their talismanic legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic to make it out of a group consisting of defending Champions Germany, an experienced Mexico and South Korea. But they just did that in style scoring in all the three matches.
Full-back Ludwig Augustinsson opened the scoring with a cool finish in the 50th minute after a scoreless first half. Captain Andreas Granqvis doubled the lead from the spot 12 minutes later after Héctor Moreno brought Marcus Berg down in the box. An own goal from Edson Alvarez on the 74th minute put the game beyond reach for Mexico.
Mexico have also made it to the knockouts, and will have to thank South Korea who scored two late goals to send defending Champions Germany packing.
Switzerland 2-2 Costa Rica
Costa Rica bows out of the 2018 World Cup gallantly after holding Switzerland to a two-all draw in their final Group E match at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Russia. Switzerland started slowly but still managed to draw first blood through Blerim Dzemaili and take a 1-0 lead into the break. The hard-fighting Costa Ricans clawed their way back in the second half to draw level from a corner which defender Kendall Waston headed home. The Swiss showed more resolve and dominance in the second period and got what they felt was a late winner through Josip Drmic. The Costa Rican got a stunning equalizer at the death from an own goal by goalkeeper Yann Sommer who was excellent all night; Brian Ruiz’s penalty hitting the crossbar and bouncing off Yann Sommer’s head into the net. Brazil remain group leaders and go through on 7 points while the Swiss finish second with 5 points. Costa Rica come bottom of the group with 1 points, but behind Serbia who finish third on 3 points.
The performance of the Swiss was shaky. At the beginning the squad seemed insecure and without ideas, then – after the score levelled at 1-1 – they became disoriented. Lichtsteiner and Schar will miss the Swiss’next game due to yellow card suspension.
Serbia 0-2 Brazil
Brazil confirmed their status as Group E winners after a solid display saw them dispatch Serbia in the two teams final World Cup group Match. Brazil started off brightly but found it difficult to penetrate a well drilled Serbian defense in the opening stages of the match. The south American side were dealt a very huge blow when Captain and Real Madrid Leftback Marcelo was forced off with an injury in the 10th minute to be replaced by Felipe Luis. The first real chance of the match came after 24 minutes. Gabriel Jesus fed Neymar a very good ball into the box but the PSG’s man shot from a difficult angle was saved by the Serbian goalkeeper.
Gabriel Jesus should have broken the deadlock towards the half our mark when he beat the offside trap to race through on goal but he took to much time on the ball and Serbia recovered in time to block his shot and put it behind for a corner. Brazil’s courage in attack was rewarded when Paulinho raced on to a brilliant Coutinho long ball to poke the ball home in front of the onrushing goalkeeper giving the record Champions a 1-0 lead. Half time found the South American team leading via Paulinho’s strike.
Serbia came out guns blazing and cratfted a chance through Tadic who made a break down the left. Rukavina fired a tantalising low ball into the box and the Brazil keeper Allison made a mess of it, parrying it to Mitrovic seven yards out, right in front of goal! Mitrovic’s diving header then hits a defender standing two yards out! Brazil however recovered from their slumber and got a second through Thiago Silva who headed in a Neymar corner from six yards for a Brazil 2-0 lead.
Neymar had a glorious chance to score Brazil’s third towards the end when a clipped pass from Fernandinho rebounds off Zivkovic and into his path, he attempted to lift the ball over the bar but Stojkovic the Serbian keeper did well to bat it away. The South American held on to win meaning they will face Mexico in the knockout stages.
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