No Contest For The Hosts - Germany vs Sweden (2:0)

Home: World Cup Finals: Germany 2006: Knockout Stage: Germany vs Sweden

Saturday, 24th June
No Contest For The Hosts

Second Round Match

Previous Encounters:
The last time Sweden beat Germany was in the Semi-finals of Sweden 1958 (3:1), before losing to Brazil in the Final. The two teams have registered a handful of draws but mostly, Germany tend to win.

The two teams also met the last time West Germany hosted the World Cup Finals, in 1974. West Germany won the Second Round group match (4:2), in Dusseldorf. Germany also won the quarter-finals match in Italy 1934 (2:1).

The Match:
So now it goes to all or nothing as Germany and Sweden kick-off the Second Round series ok knockout matches.

Germany took the early lead as Lukas Podolski was on hand to follow-up, after Andreas Isaksson came off his line to save at the feet of Miroslav Klose.

Michael Ballack had a shot fly wide of the left post in the tenth minute. Then Podolski doubled Germany's lead, two minutes later, as Klose drew the defenders away before reversing the pass to his striking partner, in space to the right.

On the half-hour, the German fans started singing out Jürgen Klinsmann's name.

Then Andreas Isaksson dived down to his right to keep out a low shot from Miroslav Klose; as Germany came so close to making it three. A minute later, the Swedish goalkeeper tipped over a thundering drive from Torsten Frings; Germany completely dominating, with Sweden allowing them far too much space in midfield.

A second yellow card for Teddy Lucic, for tugging on Klose's shirt, meant Sweden were reduced to ten men with only 35 minutes gone. Sadly, it was two German players who approached the referee to act.

With just over five minutes before half-time, Zlatan Ibrahimovic slipped away from his defenders and swivelled to drill a shot at the near post that caused Jens Lehmann problems. The Arsenal goalkeeper missed the ball initially and just managed to slap the ball around the post; before it bounced through him and over the line.

Another blunder from Lehmann almost proved costly, before the half-time whistle, as the ball bobbled away from him towards an open goal.

Half-time: (2:0)

Two goals down and with one man short, Sweden have the proverbial mountain to climb; and it's not getting any cooler in Munich.

Sweden were given a lifeline when Christoph Metzelder barged into the back of Henrik Larsson; in the penalty area. Carlos Simon didn't hesitate to point to the spot and there were no protests from the German players.

Henrik Larsson, looking to set Sweden's goalscoring record, fired the penalty high over the right of the bar with Jens Lehmann not even bothering to move.

With Sweden a little deflected, Michael Ballack turned Fredrik Ljungberg at the other end of the pitch and Andreas Isaksson just managed to touch the shot onto the post.

Although Germany had the game pretty much under control, they did push up at times, especially towards the end; to give the fans a little something extra to cheer about.

Seven minutes before the final whistle, Bernd Schneider had a shot deflected onto the post and a few minutes later, Isaksson saved from Michael Ballack again.

In all, Germany could have won the game by six or seven goals; Sweden were terrible.

Final Score:
Germany 2 - Sweden 0

Goalscorers:
1:0 Lukas Podolski (4)
2:0 Lukas Podolski (12)

Teams

Germany: (Captain: Michael Ballack)
1 Jens Lehmann; 3 Arne Friedrich, 16 Philip Lahm, 17 Per Mertesacker, 21 Christoph Metzelder; 7 Bastian Schweinsteiger, 8 Torsten Frings, 13 Michael Ballack, 19 Bernd Schneider; 11 Miroslav Klose, 20 Lukas Podolski.

Sweden: (Captain: Olof Mellberg)
1 Andreas Isaksson; 3 Olof Mellberg, 4 Teddy Lucic, 5 Erik Edman; 6 Tobias Linderoth, 7 Niclas Alexandersson, 9 Fredrik Ljungberg, 16 Kim Kallstrom, 18 Mattias Jonson; 10 Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 11 Henrik Larsson.

Referee: Carlos Simon

Substitutions:
39 Mins (Sweden) - 13 Petter Hansson on for 16 Kim Kallstrom
53 Mins (Sweden) - 21 Christian Wilhelmsson on for 18 Mattias Jonson
72 Mins (Germany) - 18 Tim Borowski on for 7 Bastian Schweinsteiger
72 Mins (Sweden) - 20 Marcus Allback on for 11 Henrik Larsson
74 Mins (Germany) - 10 Oliver Neuville on for 20 Lukas Podolski
85 Mins (Germany) - 5 Sebastian Kehl on for 8 Torsten Frings

5 Yellow Cards:
27 Mins - Torsten Frings (Germany)
28 Mins - Teddy Lucic (Sweden)
35 Mins - Teddy Lucic (Sweden)
48 Mins - Mattias Jonson (Sweden)
78 Mins - Marcus Allback (Sweden)