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Germany national football team
World Cup | Qualifiers
Oct 16, 2012 at 7.45pm UK
 
Sweden national football team

4-4

Live Commentary: Germany 4-4 Sweden - as it happened

Sports Mole brings you live text commentary of Germany's World Cup qualifying match against Sweden.

Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the World Cup Group C qualifier between Germany and Sweden at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.

Joachim Low's men sit top of the table having won all three of their games so far.

They opened their campaign with a 3-0 win over the Faroe Islands, followed by a 2-1 win in Austria. The three-time champions then humiliated the Republic of Ireland 6-1 in Dublin on Friday night.

Sweden also boast a 100% record, but lie in second having played one less game.

You can follow all of the action with us below. Please note that kickoff is 7.45pm.


9.44pmIbrahimovic challenged for a cross in the area and the ball fell kindly to Elm. He looked off balance but managed to wrap his right foot around the ball and guide it beyond Neuer. He wheeled away in delight, no doubt giving Swedish football fans a famous story to tell future generations.

9.40pmI am absolutely stunned. This is unbelievable. The Germans cannot believe what has happened.

FULL TIMETHE REFEREE BRINGS THE GAME TO A CLOSE!

92 minsGOAL! THEY'VE DONE IT! SWEDEN COMPLETE A MIRACULOUS COMEBACK! RASMUS ELM SCORES THE EQUALISER!

91 minsSchweinsteiger has just wasted time remonstrating with the referee. That should be added, I'd imagine.

90 minsThe visitors are on top now. They have the bit between their teeth. We're going to have three minutes of injury time.

89 minsSweden's long balls forward are causing mayhem in the German defence.

87 minsPodolski has come on for Reus.

84 minsSANA SPURNS A GILT-EDGED OPPORTUNITY FOR SWEDEN! Elmander chased a lost cause when Neuer spilled a routine gather. He played the ball back and the youngster never looked comfortable. It was right there for the equaliser. Ibrahimovic was right behind him as well.

84 minsSHOT! Kallstrom had a crack at goal. He can hit them, but this was an audacious attempt.

82 minsSHOT! Ozil tries his luck and isn't a million miles away. It clipped the corner of the net.

81 minsSHOT! Kroos has a go from long range but it doesn't trouble Isaksson.

76 minsCORRECTION My mistake, it was Elmander who scored. It just happened so fast! Kacaniklic did well to get to the ball and square it for the former Bolton man, who blasted home with the left. Great finish.

75 minsGOAL! SUPERB STRIKE BY IBRAHIMOVIC MAKES IT 4-3!

74 minsSweden are posing much more of an attacking threat this half, but still look pourous at the back.

73 minsThe game is end to end now, at least. Ozil broke forward with the ball but the Swedish defence regrouped well.

68 minsIbrahimovic's goal was a fantastic header, while Lustig fired beyond Neuer from a tight angle. Quickfire goals have restored some pride to the scoreline.

66 minsCHANCE! Lustig had a golden opportunity to score! Laicked on by Elmander and he nearly got a foot to it. It's all Sweden now! Germany are going to make a change. Mario Gotze will replace Thomas Muller.

64 minsGOAL! LUSTIG CLAWS ANOTHER ONE BACK FOR SWEDEN!

61 minsGOAL! IBRAHIMOVIC SCORES FOR SWEDEN!

56 minsGermany broke from midfield once more and five white shirts surged into Sweden's final third. Muller sent in a cross from the right and found Ozil, who struck across Isaksson and into the corner. Kroos made sure he didn't touch it on the line as he was offside.

55 minsGOAL! OZIL MAKES IT FOUR!

52 minsSHOT! Schweinsteiger winds up from 30 yards out but drags his effort well wide of Isaksson's goal.

50 minsIt was a delightful back-heeled pass by Ozil that created the opportunity. Class.

49 minsCHANCE! Muller is clean through on goal but Isaksson rushes out to deny him.

48 minsCHANCE! Larsson delivers an in-swinging corner from the left and Ibrahimovic is presented with a chance from yards out but he got nothing on it. Probably should have scored.

SECOND HALFThere has been a change for the visitors. Fulham forward Alexander Kacaniklic is coming on in place of Samuel Holmen and Kim Kallstrom will replace Pontus Wernbloom. So the two new boys in midfield are off.

8.48pmErik Hamren may be thinking about making some changes. There's a few new players playing tonight, and they've already been taught some harsh lessons.

8.46pmGermany are in complete control of this match. Sweden's midfield has been totally bypassed in the first half.

HALF TIMEThe referee blows the whistle and brings Sweden's misery to a close... for now. There's still 45 minutes left and Germany look like racking up another cricket score.

45 minsThere's going to be one added minute at the end of the first half.

44 minsIt seems Sweden have absolutely no answer to the midfield trio of Kroos, Schweinsteiger and Ozil. They're completely running the show.

43 minsThe Swedes badgered the referee, claiming Muller was offside. Isaksson was booked for his over-elaborate protestations.

40 minsThe ball was launched into Sweden's area and Muller headed it back towards the centre of the goal where Mertersacker was on hand to apply the finish.

38 minsGOAL! MERTERSACKER SLAMS HOME GERMANY'S THIRD!

38 minsCHANCE! Ozil slips it through to Reus but his effort is saved by Isaksson and Ozil is presented with an easier opportunity but skies his shot.

36 minsOzil nearly finds Reus with a weighted through ball, but this time it's Lustig comes to Sweden's rescue.

34 minsMore fantastic passing and movement by Germany. Ozil, Kroos and Scweinsteiger link up nicely and Boateng finds more space on the right, but Reus is denied by Olsson's clearance.

32 minsBoateng whips a dangerous ball into the box but it's cleared. Germany retain possession, but Sweden have every man behind the ball.

28 minsGermany have a freekick 30 yards out. Ozil stands over it but Reus has a dip. Isaksson saves comfortably.

26 minsElm delivered the corner, but it came to nothing.

25 minsEvery time Germany have possession, they look assured. Whereas Sweden look hurried and nervous. As I say that, Lahm miscues a clearance and Sweden have a corner.

24 minsSuperb tracking back by Klose! He won the ball off Holmen in his own corner before winning a freekick. I bet he can't keep that up for the 90, especially at his age.

23 minsSweden have the chance to launch a freekick into the area. Elm does so, and Neuer spills the catch, but Ozil is on hand to clear.

22 minsGermany cut through the Swedish defence like a hot knife through butter for that second goal. You could see how much it pleased Jogi Low.

21 minsReus looks so lively down that left wing. He has been causing the Swedes all sorts of problems. He was voted Germany's player of the year last year and got a move to Dortmund. It's not hard to see why.

20 minsA misplaced pass from Schweinsteiger. The first mistake in an otherwise perfect 20 minutes.

17 minsSchweinsteiger and Muller combine now, but to no avail. Isaksson's clearance is charged down by Klose. Germany look dominant at this early stage.

16 minsWell, when they go forward they have a sharp cutting edge! Reus played two one-twos before squaring for Klose yet again. That was breathtaking play by Germany. They really come alive around the penalty area. Beautiful to watch.

14 minsGOAL! KLOSE MAKES IT 2-0!

14 minsGermany have taken the sting out of this game with that early goal. They're passing the ball around now and playing the possession game.

8 minsGreat build-up play by the Germans! Lahm freed Reus inside the box and the Dortmund winger got to the byline before cutting back superbly for Klose, who slammed home with his left. Great start for the hosts!

7 minsGOAL! KLOSE OPENS THE SCORING FOR GERMANY!

5 minsSHOT! Holmen finds himself with some space outside Germany's area and has a pop at goal, but can't get it on target.

4 minsGermany have began well. They are camped in Sweden's half and enjoying plenty of possession.

KICKOFFWe're underway in Berlin.

SWEDENIsaksson; Lustig, Olsson, Granqvist, Safari; Elm, Larsson, Wernbloom, Holmen; Ibrahimovic, Elmander

GERMANYNeuer; Badstuber, Lahm, Mertersacker, Boateng; Schweinsteiger, Ozil, Muller, Kroos; Reus, Klose

7.39pmThe players are coming down the escalator to the pitchside. Only in Germany.

7.33pmEither one, or both, teams will lose their unbeaten record tonight. Germany come into the game on the back of a 6-1 thrashing of Ireland. A win tonight would see them six points clear of tonight's rivals with one game in hand.

7.29pmGood evening everybody and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the World Cup qualifier between Germany and Sweden.
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Netherlands Netherlands32107
Q Senegal flag Senegal32016
3 Ecuador flag Ecuador31114
4 Qatar Qatar30030

Group B

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Q England flag England32107
Q United States USA31205
3 Iran Iran31023
4 Wales flag Wales30121

Group C

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Q Argentina Argentina32016
Q Poland Poland31114
3 Mexico Mexico31114
4 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia31023

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France32016
Q Australia Australia32016
3 Tunisia Tunisia31114
4 Denmark Denmark30121

Group E

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Q Japan Japan32016
Q Spain Spain31114
3 Germany Germany31114
4 Costa Rica flag Costa Rica31023

Group F

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Q Morocco Morocco32107
Q Croatia Croatia31205
3 Belgium Belgium31114
4 Canada Canada30030

Group G

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Q Brazil Brazil32016
Q Switzerland Switzerland32016
3 Cameroon flag Cameroon31114
4 Serbia Serbia30121

Group H

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Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Republic of Korea South Korea31114
3 Uruguay flag Uruguay31114
4 Ghana flag Ghana31023


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