Coming into this crucial second encounter, you always felt that Germany needed something extra, a little more spark to unsettle their opponents and stamp their authority as World Champions in the tournament.
It was a German team that looked a little languid, maybe still recovering from the hangover of their triumph from 4 years ago(Is that even possible).
Joachim had his hands full as he needed to shake things up in order to stay alive in the competition and shake things up he did.
Ozil was benched and the front line had a new look to it with Reus coming in. Ozil’s exclusion did come as a huge surprise as he has always been the ‘German favourite’, one player that they haven’t been able to find a replacement for.
However, today they had to and they did so in emphatic style, as Reus helped Germany equalise after Sweden had scored first.
And just when they were staring down the barrel, master Kroos came to the rescue, scoring an inch perfect free kick to keep the German hopes alive in the tournament.
This is how twitter reacted:
THIS 💥🔥
— Mats Hummels (@matshummels) June 23, 2018
Yes, that really did just happen.
What a game. #GERSWE #worldcup pic.twitter.com/KRnMORz4tH
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) June 23, 2018
What! A! Fight! 💪🏼🔥 We are one team – on and off the pitch. No matter what they say. 😎 #DieMannschaft #BestNeverRest #HereToCreate #GERSWE @woodyinho pic.twitter.com/GA6UauaOT4
— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) June 23, 2018
Toni Kroos: "The way we've fought till the end, we deserved to win" #GERSWE pic.twitter.com/KG3ItVmSXz
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) June 23, 2018
This is the guy that betrayed Sweden 😭😭😭
If you know, you know #GERSWE pic.twitter.com/vewFe5sQkj
— Mad E'Leine 🧙♀️🇳🇬 (@badgalmaddie_) June 23, 2018
What‘s going on!? 😳 Unbelievable game 💪🏽🇩🇪 Big win boys @DFB_Team 👏🏽 #wm2018 #diemannschaft #gerswe
— Shkodran Mustafi (@MustafiOfficial) June 23, 2018
🎙💬 @esmuellert_: "We said before the match that we have to fight until the final seconds. At the end we were rewarded." #GERSWE 🇩🇪🇸🇪
That is #BestNeverRest
— Mercedes-Benz & Die Mannschaft (@mbfussball_en) June 23, 2018
Germany Kroos-es ahead smoothly!! #GERSWE pic.twitter.com/tyP5bbKC4z
— Rosy (@rose_k01) June 23, 2018
Müller: ''This can be a crucial turning point – now we're in the tournament." #GERSWE pic.twitter.com/s5uyogYywV
— Home Bayern (@HomeBayern___) June 23, 2018
This. This is what it means! 🔥#DieMannschaft #ZSMMN #GERSWE 2-1 pic.twitter.com/8eHNzGw3gE
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) June 23, 2018
Couldn't hold back the tears with Toni Kross' goal!!!!!! What a game!!!!! #GERSWE pic.twitter.com/Q3Ksl1zEhj
— kick buttowski🇵🇵🇹🇹 (@cvaraj46) June 23, 2018
That moment #GERSWE pic.twitter.com/Od8VudvnXY
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) June 23, 2018
#GERSWE How Sweden are feeling now after the game pic.twitter.com/KCm3SQ0O4W
— wasioma Bashir (@wasiomaBashir1) June 23, 2018
Every BMW and Mercedes Benz owner in Sweden right now #GERSWE pic.twitter.com/ZJPPqhNzOg
— Cris Ramón (@CramonBPC) June 23, 2018
What a comeback by Germany!#GERSWE pic.twitter.com/fp2f7tXxhz
— RVCJ Media (@RVCJ_FB) June 23, 2018
Toni Kroos on his mistake: "If you play 400 passes in a game, sometimes two will fail!" #GERSWE
— German Football Daily (@GERFootDaily) June 23, 2018
Holy sh*t. I love football #GERSWE
— Gemma Chan (@Gemma_Chan1) June 23, 2018
How funny that Evra has clearly been told by ITV to stop clapping #GERSWE pic.twitter.com/yKGYvQPxre
— yeah you said (@thelukeholloway) June 23, 2018
#GERSWE Germany fan had a minor heart attack after Germany scored a last minute freekick pic.twitter.com/P1E11CMkN1
— Guangyu Chen (@ChennyG4) June 23, 2018
Take a bow..Toni Kroos!
Germany Beat Sweden 2-1#GERSWE pic.twitter.com/gvg2HPd9v5— RVCJ Media (@RVCJ_FB) June 23, 2018
