Holders Germany will have to beat Sweden in order to avoid an early exit from the FIFA World Cup when the two sides meet in a crunch Group F clash at the Fisht Stadium in Sochi on Saturday.
Here are the live updates:Minute 45+2 -- Uff!! Sweden are cruising here. They get a free-kick on the right. Larsson whips in the cross and Berg directs the ball with his head towards the far corner. It's bound to find the back of the net but Neuer does magnificently to turn it aside!
Minute 43 -- Sweden carve out another opportunity for themselves with a long-ball down the left. Forsberg is at it and he puts in a bending cross to Toivonen who fails to receive it. The ball runs out to Claesson on the right who tries to cut inside and is dispossessed.
Minute 39 -- Gundogan takes his change from 25 yards. The shot is deflected but Olsen manages to parry the ball out. Muller latches on to the rebound but Olsen puts the ball wide for a corner.
Germany will be eliminated if Sweden manage to hold the lead!
Minute 32 (GOAL!!) -- Toivonen opens scoring for Sweden. He receives the a cross inside the ball, wards off challenge from two defenders before chipping the ball delightfully over the onrushing Neuer.
Minute 30 (Substitution)-- Rudy can't come in after that injury. Germany played with 10 men for quite some time before deciding to bring in Gundogan to replace Rudy.
Minute 24-- Toivonen's boot accidentally catches Sebastian Rudy who goes down clutching his head. He is bleeding. The German goes out of the play, changes shirt after getting some medical treatment on the field itself.
Minute 16: Another counter-attack from the Swedes blocked by Boateng. The defence looks really vulnerable. the Germans are dearly Mats Hummels.
Minute 14--Sweden are furious as it was a clear foul from Boateng as he tried to stop Berg from behind!
Minute 12-- What a chance for Sweden against the flow of the game, Berg gets a through ball and runs towards the Germany goal with Boateng behind him. Boateng tackles from behind and the ball is guarded by an advancing Neuer. Germany's defence look vulnerable!
Minute 9-- Reus makes a superb run down the right and cuts the ball into the middle towards Werner but Lindelof gets there first and puts the ball out for corner.
Minute 7--Germany creates another chance with a Draxler shot going dangerously across the face of the Swedish goal.
Minute 1-- Kickoff! Germany is attacking from the very start. Great early opportunity for the defending champions, with only some desperate defending on the line keep the Sweden goal unbreached!
Line-ups out:
Germany vs Sweden
The lineup for Sweden: Victor Lindelof who missed the last match due to illness is back in the squad, leaving Pontus Jansson on the bench and that's the only change from the last match against Korea Republic, as they again opt for a 4-4-2 formation. However, the Swede's are expected to play a bit more defensively tonight than they did in Nizhny Novgorod.Trivia:
---- The last time Germany won a World Cup game in which they conceded the first goal was back in 1998 against Mexico, drawing one and losing six since. (Source: OptaJoe)
The lineup for Germany: Rudiger takes over as centre-back from Hummels, who is out with injury. Hector replaces Plattenhardt in his regular left-back spot after returning from illness.
Khedira is replaced in central midfield by Rudy, a defensive minded holding midfielder, probably tasked with breaking up counter-attacks. Ozil did not make the cut this time, but Werner once more gets the nod ahead of Gomez up front. Marco Reus also starts the match against Sweden.
Blessed with a strong squad brimming with talented players, Germany were hot contenders to become the first team in 56 years to retain the World Cup.
But after a shock 0-1 defeat to Mexico, the jolted four-time winners will have their task cut out against Sweden. A reversal will all but end their campaign.
"Everyone is aware that this is our first 'final', it's annoying that it comes so early, but it's self-inflicted," team director Oliver Bierhoff was quoted as saying.
Germany were all over the place in the first half against Mexico and their heroics in Brazil four years ago seemed distant.
After the defeat, there have been catcalls to drop under-performing players like Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira.
Sweden, meanwhile, will believe they can cause another upset after their confidence lifting 1-0 win over Korea Republic. This was their first win in the competition since hosting the tournament in 1958.
The Swedes are no strangers to upsetting the odds, beating France during qualification and getting past Italy in the play-offs, so an under-performing German side will hold no fears for Janne Anderson's men.
The Swedes are no strangers to upsetting the odds, beating France during qualification and getting past Italy in the play-offs, so an under-performing German side will hold no fears for Janne Anderson's men.
Time: 11:30 PM (IST)
In today's Group F match, Germany vs Sweden match will take place in Sochi on Saturday, June 23, 2018, at 8:30 PM (IST).
Germany vs Sweden match will be broadcast on Sony Ten 2, Sony Ten 2 HD, Sony ESPN, Sony ESPN HD in English Commentary and Sony Ten 3 and Sony 3 HD in Hindi Commentary.
Germany vs Sweden match will be available for live streaming on Sony Liv also. And Both Airtel and Jio would broadcast the FIFA World Cup 2018 matches for free to their respective subscribers.
Germany vs Sweden: Watch out for
Emil Forsberg: The main creative threat in Janne Andersson's principally solid, unspectacular side lies in the shape of Emil Forsberg, one of the most talented wide attackers in Europe.
The 26-year-old has come to Russia on the back of two outstanding seasons in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig, and on Saturday evening, at the Fisht Stadium by the Black Sea, he will come up against a German side featuring his club colleague Timo Werner.
Mesut Ozil: Germany is desperately looking towards Mesut Ozil for the much needed creative flair in attack. Ozil had quiet games by his high standards against Mexico and will have to do better if Germany is to come away with the vital three points.