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Tuesday, 16 October 2012

Germany 4-4 Sweden: Low's men stunned as Elm completes incredible comeback from four goals down

Germany 4 vs 4 Sweden - Played
… - And that's that. Germany's misery is through. Let's just say that this didn't seem likely 30 minutes ago. Germany have got some serious, serious work to do.
90′ + 3 - Goal - Rasmus Elm (Sweden)
90′ + 3 - GOAL!!! Sweden have done it! Germany cannot believe it. Mertesacker is beaten in the air and the ball falls to Rasmus Elm, who smashes it home to cap an impossible comeback. Unbelievable. No words.
90′ + 2 - Yellow Card - Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany)
90′ + 1 - Klose wins a free kick in a threatening area, but Germany are not pushing anyone forward. This should buy a minute or two...
90′ + 1 - Three minutes of injury time. Only 180 seconds for Germany fans to hold their breath now.
89′ - Yellow Card - Philipp Lahm (Germany)
89′ - And now Lahm picks up a booking for time-wasting. We're going to have a long few minutes on our hands, now.
88′ - Substitution Marco Reus Lukas Podolski (Germany)
88′ - Substitution for Germany now. Lukas Podolski replaces Marco Reus, who doesn't exactly rush off the pitch...
86′ - That could have been it. Germany have just got a very lucky escape. Elmander pressures Neuer into spilling a long ball and it falls kindly for Sana, who has an open goal to aim at with the Bayern keeper grounded, but the Ajax man screws it over.
84′ - The whole of Germany just held its breath in terror there. The ball falls to Kallstrom 35 yards from goal, but the former Lyon man can't get his trademark contact on the ball and it flies over. Nervous, nervous moment.
83′ - Yellow Card - Marco Reus (Germany)
83′ - OZIL!! The 24-year-old almost gets his second of the night with a long-range strike that flies just over the bar.
81′ - That wouldn't have gone amiss! Kroos lets fly from 25 yards and beats Isaksson, but sees his strike rattle the post. Second time Germany have struck the woodwork today...
78′ - Substitution Sebastian Larsson Tobias Sana (Sweden)
78′ - Holger Badstuber really has to look at himself in the mirror after this performance. If Germany throw away a four-goal lead at home, against weaker opposition, that would be a disaster.
76′ - Assist - Alexander Kacaniklic (Sweden)
76′ - Goal - Johan Elmander (Sweden) GOAL!!! Kacanaklic makes good ground down the left and squares it and Elmander beats Badstuber to the ball and taps it home. Germany fans, brace yourselves...
74′ - It's suddenly very tense in the Olympiastadion. Germany know another concession will probably see them under constant pressure for the remainder of the game - and they look nervous. Joachim Low is visibly furious with his team on the sidelines, and the fans are far more muted than they were before.
72′ - At the other end, Ozil bounds forward on the counterattack, but his lack of pace ultimately lets him down. He passes it back to Kroos, but it ultimately comes to nothing. Germany need another to settle their nerves.
70′ - Gaps are certainly appearing in the Germany defence now! Lahm has to race across to dispossess Ibrahimovic, and the hosts fail to clear the resulting corner for what seems like an age.
69′ - GREAT SAVE!! Kroos seizes possession on the edge of the box and smashes it towards the goal, but Isaksson beats it away. Lovely stop.
68′ - Suddenly Germany are on the ropes! Sweden haven't had many chances, but they've been clinical over the last 10 minutes!
67′ - Substitution Thomas Müller Mario Götze (Germany)
66′ - So close!! That could be 4-3!! Ibrahimovic meets a corner at the near post and flicks it across the face of goal, but Lustig misses his kick at the back stick, and squanders an opportunity to make this really interesting...
64′ - Assist - Kim Källström (Sweden)
64′ - Goal - M. Lustig (Sweden)
64′ - GOAL!!! Suddenly Sweden are right back in this! A Badstuber howler lets Lustig latch onto a chipped ball into the box, and the full-back squeezes it past Neuer at the near past. The Bayern keeper should have done far better there.
62′ - Assist - Kim Källström (Sweden)
62′ - Goal - Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden) GOAL!! Sweden pull one back! Muller is tackled brilliantly and Kallstrom picks up the loose ball, sends it straight into the middle to Ibrahimovic, and the PSG striker heads it over Neuer and into the back of the net.
60′ - Sweden are finally in possession, but they seem hollow and deflated. Understandably so - Germany look likely to add at least one more to their tally.
58′ - Sweden wanted an offside given against Kroos, who was standing on the line for Ozil's goal there, but Germany deserve their strike. For the former Werder Bremen man, it's another international goal - he's on a purple patch that Klose would be proud of!
56′ - Assist - Thomas Müller (Germany)
56′ - Goal - Mesut Özil (Germany) GOAL!!! Just as I say that, Ozil gets in on the act! The Real Madrid star turned 24 this week, and celebrates the event by collecting Muller's cross and sweeping it into the left-hand corner of Isaksson's goal. Classy finish from a man in form.
54′ - It's been a slightly slow start to the second half - Muller should have scored, while Ibrahimovic had a decent chance, but Germany haven't been able to show off the fabulous football they were playing in the first 45 minutes.
52′ - Schweinsteiger sprays the ball out wide to Boateng and gets the ball back from his team-mate. The midfielder smashes the ball goal-wards from distance, but his left-footed strike flies a couple of yards wide. He's had a quiet game, all things told.
50′ - What a chance!! A lovely backheel from Ozil plays in Muller, who finds himself one-on-one with Isaksson, but shoots straight at the 31-year-old's legs. That should be 4-0!
48′ - So close!! Larsson swings in a corner for Sweden and Zlatan Ibrahimovic fails to capitalise on some slack defending from Badstuber and misses his kick at the far post. He really could have got his team back in this one with that chance.
46′ - Substitution Samuel Holmen Alexander Kacaniklic (Sweden)
46′ - Substitution Pontus Wernbloom Kim Källström (Sweden)
46′ - Sweden string some slick passes together down the left, but Thomas Muller of all people gets across and comes in with a great sliding tackle - you don't often get that from a winger!
46′ - And we're back! Forty-five minutes to go, and all eyes on Miroslav Klose - he's just one goal away from equalling Gerd Muller's record.
… - And that's half-time! Germany are on top and cruising. Two goals from Klose and one from Mertesacker have them flying and it's going to almost certainly be four wins from four for Jogi Low's side.
45′ - The crowd rises in expectation as Klose races onto a through ball, but the veteran can't get it under control, but still manages to win a corner.
43′ - It's really a case of 'how many?' now for Germany. Klose has a great opportunity to equal Gerd Muller's record, and Sweden are all over the place.
41′ - The icing on the cake for a near-perfect half from Germany - Sweden are angry that a handball wasn't given against Klose in the build-up to the goal, and they may have a point!
39′ - Yellow Card - Andreas Isaksson (Sweden)
39′ - Assist - Thomas Müller (Germany)
39′ - Goal - Per Mertesacker (Germany) GOAL!!! Germany get their third, and it's Per Mertesacker of all people! The Arsenal defender gets his name on the scoresheet by sweeping home from close range after some good work from Muller.
38′ - REUS!! The 23-year-old brilliantly latches onto Ozil's through ball and forces a great save from Isaksson. The Real Madrid midfielder charges onto the rebound and sends it into the sidenetting.
35′ - Oh, that's beautiful! Muller plays a brilliant backheel to set up Boateng, whose cross towards Reus is cut out.
33′ - Speaking of Boateng, the Germany defender skips down the right once more and delivers another threatening cross, but there are enough yellow shirts in the box to deal with it.
31′ - One interesting point has been Jerome Boateng, who has looked far more at home in the international arena tonight than he ever has before. Perhaps Marcel Schmelzer's injury wasn't so bad after all.
28′ - After Germany's rampant start to the match, the hosts have tailed off a bit. Sweden are looking a bit more comfortable in possession now, and Low's side don't seem to be capable of carving open their opponents at will.
25′ - Another bit of lax defending, this time from Lahm, who sells Neuer short with a sloppy header and concedes a corner. The Bayern keeper catches the resulting set piece with a great catch.
23′ - A nervous moment for Germany there! The visitors pump a free kick high into the hosts' box, and Neuer almost drops it at Elmander's feet. However, Sweden can't captialise and Germany survive.
21′ - Sweden really can't get a foothold in the match. Germany can stroke the ball around at will and Boateng and Lahm are constantly camped out deep in the Swedish territory.
19′ - So, Klose is just one goal away from Muller's record now. The Lazio man is so close to making history!
17′ - This could get embarrassing. Muller is almost played through, but can't quite get the ball under control and it runs through to Isaksson. This is magnificent from Germany.
15′ - Goal - Miroslav Klose (Germany) GOAL!!! Miro gets his second of the night! After some absolutely masterful one-touch build-up play, Reus pulls the ball back to Klose, who taps home his second of the night at the second time of asking. Wonderful, magnificent goal. Unbelievably good.
14′ - Other than Holmen's effort, Sweden have offered very little. Germany are confident in possession and are in the mood.
12′ - The excitement in the stadium is noticeable - the whole crowd cheer as Marco Reus sends in a corner, but it's easily dealt with by Isaksson. Slight anti-climax!
10′ - Great start from Germany, who clearly want to keep up their rampant form after Friday's win. The Nationalelf are off and running and get a deserved lead.
8′ - Assist - Marco Reus (Germany)
8′ - Goal - Miroslav Klose (Germany) GOAL!!!!! Reus beats the offside trap on the left-hand side of the box, latches onto Lahm's through ball and pulls it back to Klose, who smashes it into the roof of the net! Great play! Only two goals off Muller's record!
7′ - Boateng is finding great room down the right, but on this occasion, his cross is poor and easily cleared. Safari at left-back needs to sort out his positioning.
5′ - What a shot! Samuel Holmen almost gives Sweden the lead by darting forward from midfield and sends a ferocious effort over the bar. Great play from Sweden.
4′ - Great start from Germany, and Boateng in particular! This time, the former Manchester City man tears down the wing once more and sends in a cross which dealt with by Isaksson well.
2′ - WHAT A CHANCE!! Thomas Muller almost gives Germany the lead! Boateng does brilliantly to keep the ball in play down the right the wing and crosses for his club team-mate, who forces a great save from Isaksson, and sends his follow up against the woodwork!
1′ - Ibrahimovic makes his first dart forward, but Philipp Lahm soon stops him in his tracks. Zlatan vs the German defence should be a fascinating battle.
1′ - And we're off! Sweden get the game started, but Bastian Schweinsteiger soon wins the ball in midfield and Toni Kroos wins a free kick.
… - We've had the national anthems and we're almost under way. Should be a great match - don't go anywhere!
… - So, we're just five minutes away from kick-off here. Let's have your predictions! Will Germany make it four wins from four, or will Sweden spring a surprise? You can get in touch with me via Twitter (@eniskoylu).. We look forward to hearing from you!
… - SWEDEN (4-2-3-1): Isaksson; Lustig, Granqvist, J Olsson, Safari; Wernbloom, Elm; Larsson, Ibrahimovic, Holmen; Elmander
… - GERMANY (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Boateng, Mertesacker, Badstuber, Lahm; Kroos, Schweinsteiger; Muller, Ozil, Reus; Klose
… - The teams are in, and both Joachim Low and Erik Hamren have both made a couple of changes.
… - Good evening! It's Germany - Sweden and Goal.com is here to bring you all the action from Berlin. It promises to be a great match, so stay tuned!

Credit Goal.com
Chimdindu Nweke

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