Germany v Sweden, 23 June 2018

Kick-off: 9.00pm local Germany v Sweden was the 29th game played at the FIFA World Cup 2018 (Match no 27) Refereeing team: Referee: Szymon Marciniak (Poland) Assistant Referee 1: Pawel Sokolnicki (Poland) Assistant Referee 2: Tomasz Listkiewicz (Poland) Fourth Official: Ryuji Sato (Japan) Reserve AR: Toru Sagara (Japan) VAR: Clement Turpin (France) Had Toni Kross not produced a sensational last gasp winner, a draw between Mexico and Sweden in their final group game would have eliminated Germany, even if the holders had won against bottom-of-the-group Korea Republic. Had they lost this game, Germany would have gone out of the World Cup finals at the first stage for the first time since 1938. This was the first time that Germany had won a game at the World Cup finals after conceding the first goal since 1998 in a round of 16 tie against Mexico in Montpellier. This was the second time that Germany had won a game at the World Cup finals with an added time winner; also a 1-0 win against Poland in Dortmund in 2006 when Oliver Neuville netted the late winner. Sweden had now lost eight games at the World Cup finals after they led; more than any other nation in the competition's history. Sweden goalkeeper Robin Olsen conceded his first goal in 548 minutes in international games since he last conceded against Netherlands in October 2017 (five consecutive clean sheets). Jerome Boateng became the first player to be sent off at the World Cup finals for Germany since Miroslav Klose in 2010 against Serbia. This was the first game at a major international tournament that Mesut Özil had not started for Germany since he made his debut in 2010; a run of 26 consecutive starts. Sweden remained without a win against Germany in 12 meetings since 1978.