World Cup Day 14: Germany out; Mexico, Sweden, Brazil, Switzerland through taken at BSJ Headquarters (Revolution)

(Gokhan Balci/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Revolution

World Cup Day 14: Germany out; Mexico, Sweden, Brazil, Switzerland through

By Sean Sweeney

Jun 27, 2018 • 4:28 pm

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Couldn't keep up with the final days of Groups E and F? Don't worry, BostonSportsJournal.com has you covered with all the highlights from Russia in quickie form, complete with BSJ insight and analysis.

FIVE THOUGHTS ABOUT WEDNESDAY'S PLAY

Die Mannschaft crash out in group stage: For the third consecutive time, the defending champions didn't get out of the group. Not showing anything regarding urgency until the last 20 minutes of the football match, Germany found itself knocked out of the tournament thanks to a pair of second-half, stoppage-time goals by South Korea's Kim Young-gwon -- which was declared a good goal via VAR after the assistant referee had adjudged him in an offside position -- and the dagger by Son Heung-min on a long ball that saw the Germans' net empty three minutes from the full-time whistle. Germany finished fourth in the group, and joins Spain '14 and Italy '10 as the most recent defending champion to see its World Cup end after two weeks; it's also the first time Germany, in any form (the '74 East German team got out of the first group stage), failed to get out of the group stage since 1938.

Despite 3-0 defeat, El Tri advances: In what was a near-disaster for not only Mexico but CONCACAF as a whole had Germany scored, El Tri moves on. And so, too, does Sweden, which scored three second-half goals to put the Blue and Yellow into the knockout stages top of Group F. Ludwig Augustinsson got the Swedes ahead with a shot off Memo Ochoa's hand, but it had enough pace behind it to surge over the goal line just five minutes into the second half. Just after the hour, Andreas Granqvist scored a cast-iron pen to give Sweden a two-goal advantage; 12 minutes later, an own goal ended things. It followed a wild first half which saw Mexico cautioned right from the off, and the resulting free kick was a close one for the Swedes, getting it right into the 6-yard box. Just before the half-hour mark, the VAR officials wanted referee Nestor Pitana to take a look at a potential handle by Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez; Pitana did not change his mind, and Sweden felt aggrieved. Nevertheless, Sweden and Mexico are through, Mexico keeping CONCACAF's and its own streak of reaching the Round of 16 intact, and El Tri will now take on the top side in Group E, who just happens to be...

Brazil holds off Serbia with 2-0 win: Brazil had plenty of opportunities, but it wasn't until the 35th minute when Paulinho took a through ball and used a high toe poke to put it beyond the Serbian keeper to reclaim the top spot in Group E in the 36th minute. Serbia had a golden opportunity to pull level, as Aleksandar Mitrovic's goal-bound header caromed off the legs of Brazil's Thiago Silva and right into the arms of Alisson at the hour mark. Mitrovic had a cracker right at the keeper in the 65th, not able to break through. But three minutes later, Silva made it 2-nil with a rising header off a corner, and the Selecao were well on their way to the knockout stages in the top spot, and will face El Tri.

Ruiz weird pen salvages draw for Ticos: Costa Rica certainly didn't play like it was already eliminated. No, Los Ticos were out on the front foot and hammered Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer with several shots in the first 20 minutes. But in the 31st minute, it was Switzerland, against the run of play, which pounded the opener into the net beyond Keylor Navas courtesy Blerim Dzemaili to lift the Swiss into first in the group. But that positioning only lasted a few minutes until Paulinho's toe poke. Costa Rica had some solid attacks, but just couldn't put together the final finish -- until the 56th minute, when Kendall Waston of the Vancouver Whitecaps headed in a corner kick to put the match at level terms, 1-1. But in the 88th, it was Josip Drmic slotting home, seemingly giving Switzerland the winner. But Costa Rica's Bryan Ruiz then booted a second-half stoppage time penalty off the crossbar and off Sommer's head -- no BS -- and into the net to level it at 2-2. Switzerland advanced with the draw, and will play short a couple of defenders due to yellow card suspensions.

Germany deserves to finish last in Group F: Say what you will about Germany's lineup choices, or who Joachim Loew did or didn't bring to Russia with him. That's all in the past and done and dusted. What's crystal clear to me is that Die Mannschaft were, with the exception of the second half against Sweden, thoroughly uninterested in defending their title in Russia. Were they arrogant? Is it time for DFB to blow it all up again? Possibly to both, but this is also something that shouldn't stand in Berlin: This was a team that found itself beaten by not one so-called inferior confederation (CONCACAF, Mexico), but by two (AFC, South Korea). Certainly, there will be some UEFA-philes scratching their heads over that particular conundrum.

OFF THE PITCH


  • Romelu Lukaku has been ruled out of Thursday's Group G finale for Belgium versus England.

  • The DFB -- the German FA -- said early Wednesday that Loew's job is safe regardless of Die Mannschaft's finish in the group.

  • Diego Maradona needed assistance in leaving Argentina's 2-1 win over Nigeria Tuesday, and saw a doctor during halftime after complaining of his neck hurting. He denied going to the hospital.

  • Critics in Australia have jumped on the Socceroos for the lack of goals they scored -- two, both from the spot -- and none from open play during Group C. Press from across the country called it a "meek exit" and "not the Australian way." The Sydney Daily Herald wrote, "Is Australia's player pool too shallow and did this team do as well as was expected of them? Is the A-League doing enough to aid the Socceroos?"

  • An England supporter's group has found a visa loophole that allows fans to travel to Russia for the World Cup... without match tickets. I can't see that ending badly...


STATS OF THE DAY


  • We have to issue a correction from Tuesday's World Cup Report regarding Lionel Messi becoming the first to score goals at a World Cup in their teens, 20s, and 30s. We should have said the first to do that at the men's World Cup... since Mia Hamm (Mrs. Nomar Garciaparra) did it for the US women at 19, 23, 27, and 31 first.

  • With Costa Rica's goal today, all 32 teams will have scored at least one goal.


PLAYER OF THE DAY


Bryan Ruiz, midfielder, Costa Rica




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