World Cup 2018: Sweden reach last 16 with win over Mexico
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Augustinsson volleys Sweden into lead
Sweden propelled themselves into the World Cup knockout stage with a handsome victory over Mexico that qualified them as Group F winners and condemned Germany to early elimination.
Mexico, undone on the counter attack and from the penalty spot before conceding an own goal, joined Sweden in reaching the next round as runners-up despite the defeat after the defending champions also lost.
Germany, the four-time World Cup winners, were beaten 2-0 by South Korea and failed to reach the knockout stage for the first time in 16 consecutive appearances since 1954.
- Germany knocked out after 2-0 defeat
Sweden also had a first-half penalty claim for a handball by Javier Hernandez that was denied despite going to a VAR review, but in the end it mattered little after three second-half goals.
Ludwig Augustinsson fired Sweden ahead five minutes after the break when a Viktor Claesson mis-hit inadvertently found him free at the far post, before Andreas Granqvist smashed in a penalty 12 minutes later following a Hector Moreno trip on Marcus Berg.
Mexico - who went close through a curling Carlos Vela effort in the first half - pressed hard for a reply but were punished again when Edson Alvarez clumsily turned in an attempted clearance past his own keeper.
Juan Carlos Osorio's side, so brilliant in two previous wins over Germany and South Korea, should have scored at least a goal from their underwhelming performance but for a woeful Vela header in the closing stages.
The teams will find out who they play in the next round later this evening, after the final round of matches in Group E.
As it stands Sweden would face Switzerland, while Mexico, who have been knocked out in the last 16 of every World Cup since 1994, will most likely play Brazil.
Mexico's late worries
Javier Hernandez had only 30 touches against Sweden, the fewest by a Mexico player.
With the game fading into injury time and Sweden certain of victory, Mexican fans began to think what was before the game unthinkable - possible elimination.
At that stage, Germany were still drawing 0-0 with South Korea, and a late goal for Joachim Low's side would have moved them into second place on goal difference.
The two late goals for South Korea - the second came after the final whistle had been blown in Ekaterinburg - were greeted with celebration and relief at the end of a performance that had little to cheer about.
This was the first time in Colombian Osario's 51 matches in charge of Mexico that he made no changes from their previous match.
But his team were completely unrecognisable from the 2-1 victory over South Korea that followed that impressive opening 1-0 win against Germany.
They found it far more difficult against Sweden, who threw everything towards claiming the win.
It now seems that Osario - criticised in the past for too much tinkering - will face questions of a different sort, just when he thought he had found his best XI.
Sweden turn things around
Sweden's cruel last-minute defeat by Germany in the second round of matches looked to have severely diminished their chances of reaching the knockout stage.
But how emphatically they put that result behind them.
Before Toni Kroos' 95th-minute goal, they had performed much in the same way as they did here; difficult to break down, dangerous on the counter and combative at every opportunity.
The only difference was that they were far more clinical against Mexico when chances presented themselves and their three second-half goals left their opponents reeling.
Competing at the tournament for the first time since 2006, it will be intriguing to see how far they can go.
Analysis - The best World Cup in recent memory
Former England and Arsenal defender Matt Upson: It was a very difficult match-up for Mexico in terms of style. From the first minute, Sweden's intent was so clear, the set-pieces, how physical and organised they were. They thoroughly deserved to win the game 3-0.
Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman: I don't think anyone saw Sweden winning by three goals. I can't tell you how much I am enjoying this World Cup, the drama of it, the unpredictability. The change in momentum and scorelines is fantastic. It's probably the best World Cup I can remember.
Man of the match - Andreas Granqvist
Sweden's captain was solid in defence and decisive from the penalty spot
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Mexico
13Ochoa
21Álvarez
3Salcedo
15MorenoBooked at 61mins
23GallardoBooked at 1minsSubstituted forFabiánat 65'minutes
16Herrera
18GuardadoSubstituted forJM Coronaat 75'minutes
7LayúnBooked at 85minsSubstituted forPeraltaat 89'minutes
11Vela
22Lozano
14Javier Hernández
Substitutes
1J Corona
2Ayala
4Márquez
5Gutiérrez
6J dos Santos
8Fabián
9Jiménez
10G dos Santos
12Talavera
17JM Corona
19Peralta
20Aquino
Sweden
1Olsen
2LustigBooked at 88mins
3Lindelöf
4Granqvist
6Augustinsson
17Claesson
7LarssonBooked at 26minsSubstituted forSvenssonat 57'minutes
8EkdalSubstituted forHiljemarkat 80'minutes
10Forsberg
9BergSubstituted forThelinat 68'minutes
20Toivonen
Substitutes
5Olsson
11Guidetti
12Johnsson
13Svensson
14Helander
15Hiljemark
16Krafth
18Jansson
19Rohdén
21Durmaz
22Thelin
23Nordfeldt
Referee:
Néstor Pitana
Attendance:
33,061
Match Stats
Home TeamMexicoAway TeamSweden
Possession
Home67%
Away33%
Shots
Home20
Away15
Shots on Target
Home3
Away5
Corners
Home7
Away3
Fouls
Home14
Away11
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Mexico 0, Sweden 3.
Full TimePosted at 90'+5'
Second Half ends, Mexico 0, Sweden 3.
Posted at 90'+3'
Attempt saved. Hirving Lozano (Mexico) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Héctor Moreno.
Posted at 90'+3'
Edson Álvarez (Mexico) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'+3'
Foul by Isaac Thelin (Sweden).
Posted at 90'+3'
Attempt saved. Héctor Herrera (Mexico) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Jesús Manuel Corona.
Posted at 90'+1'
Foul by Marco Fabián (Mexico).
Posted at 90'+1'
Ola Toivonen (Sweden) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'+1'
Corner, Mexico. Conceded by Viktor Claesson.
Posted at 89'
Attempt missed. Hirving Lozano (Mexico) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Héctor Herrera following a corner.
Posted at 89'
Corner, Mexico. Conceded by Ola Toivonen.
SubstitutionPosted at 89'
Substitution, Mexico. Oribe Peralta replaces Miguel Layún.
BookingPosted at 88'
Mikael Lustig (Sweden) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 88'
Hirving Lozano (Mexico) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 88'
Foul by Mikael Lustig (Sweden).
Posted at 87'
Héctor Herrera (Mexico) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 87'
Foul by Viktor Claesson (Sweden).
BookingPosted at 85'
Miguel Layún (Mexico) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 85'
Foul by Miguel Layún (Mexico).
Posted at 85'
Ola Toivonen (Sweden) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 83'
Hand ball by Héctor Herrera (Mexico).
Posted at 81'
Attempt missed. Carlos Vela (Mexico) header from very close range is close, but misses to the right.
Posted at 81'
Attempt blocked. Chicharito (Mexico) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is blocked. Assisted by Jesús Manuel Corona with a cross.
Posted at 81'
Attempt blocked. Carlos Vela (Mexico) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
SubstitutionPosted at 80'
Substitution, Sweden. Oscar Hiljemark replaces Albin Ekdal.
Posted at 80'
Hirving Lozano (Mexico) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 80'
Foul by Andreas Granqvist (Sweden).
Posted at 76'
Offside, Mexico. Carlos Salcedo tries a through ball, but Chicharito is caught offside.
Posted at 76'
Corner, Mexico. Conceded by Ludwig Augustinsson.
SubstitutionPosted at 75'
Substitution, Mexico. Jesús Manuel Corona replaces Andrés Guardado.
Goal!Posted at 74'
Own Goal by Edson Álvarez, Mexico. Mexico 0, Sweden 3.
Posted at 73'
Foul by Andrés Guardado (Mexico).
Posted at 73'
Albin Ekdal (Sweden) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 70'
Attempt missed. Chicharito (Mexico) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Marco Fabián with a cross following a set piece situation.
Posted at 69'
Edson Álvarez (Mexico) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 69'
Foul by Ludwig Augustinsson (Sweden).
Posted at 68'
Attempt missed. Carlos Salcedo (Mexico) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Carlos Vela with a cross following a corner.
Posted at 68'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
SubstitutionPosted at 68'
Substitution, Sweden. Isaac Thelin replaces Marcus Berg.
Posted at 67'
Delay in match Marcus Berg (Sweden) because of an injury.
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Source: bbc.com
Source: bbc.com
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