World Cup analysis: Germany’s lineup vs Sweden
Marco Reus Jogi Löw’s lineup against Sweden makes four key changes. We break down what they mean. After a week of riddling, Germany’s official lineup is at last here. German National Coach Jogi has made four changes to the lineup that feel meekly to Mexico last week. TEAM NEWS Here's how #GER line up for our Group F #WorldCup clash with #SWE #DieMannschaft #ZSMMN #GERSWE pic.twitter.com/Csnj60YeGL— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) June 23, 2018Marco Reus has replaced Mesut Özil, Sebastian Rudy replaces Sami Khedira, Jonas Hector replaces Marvin Plattenhardt, and Antonio Rüdiger replaces Mats Hummels. What does it mean? Media Two of the changes are self explanatory: Jonas Hector is over the cold that sidelined him against Mexico, so Germany’s preferred starter at left-back is fit and ready to go. That is very good news for Germany, because Marvin Plattenhardt struggled to get involved in the game at all against Mexico.In the central defense, Antonio Rüdiger has replaced an injured Mats Hummels. Hummels twisted his neck in training and was not expected to start. Although many think Hummels’s teammate at Bayern Munich, Niklas Süle, should have been tapped to replace him, it is no surprise that Jogi Löw has opted instead for Chelsea’s Antonio Rüdiger, who has served as his first choice to backup the starters for much longer than Süle.The key changes are in the midfield and up front. The biggest surprise is of course Sebastian Rudy, who will play alongside Toni Kroos in place of Sami Khedira. Rudy will be tasked with maintaining the German team’s defensive stability when they are on the attack and will function also as the deeper lying half of a double-pivot with Kroos. The role is reminiscent of that of Javi Martinez on Jupp Heynckes’s Bayern team just this past season. Rudy played precisely the same role for Bayern on several occasions, as well, when Martinez was rested. Leon Goretzka, in contrast, is much more of an attacking midfielder, and it is not all too surprising that Löw would opt instead for the safer option in Rudy. Having Kroos to drive the attack while supporting the offense is enough in his eyes.Finally, Marco Reus has pushed Mesut Özil out of Germany’s starting lineup. It is a minor revolution for a notoriously conservative coach, but many had called for Özil’s head after an ineffective performance against Mexico. The decision came down to a choice between benching Özil or Julian Draxler, who played far better on Germany’s left wing than Özil in the center. Reus is precisely the kind of dynamic playmaker that Germany can need, and he is undeniably hungry for international success, after missing the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Euros entirely due to injury. If Germany’s midfield remains stable with Kroos and Rudy, then Reus will aim to coordinate Germany’s attackers and serve the ball to the wings or forward to Timo Werner. Löw’s subtle hyping of traditional striker Mario Gomez seems to have been merely a ruse.Since Mexico dispatched South Korea earlier this morning, Germany now have no room for error. This lineup must succeed. Read more...

@FCBayernEN: Kick off!

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@FCBayernEN: RT @DFB_Team_EN: We win together. We draw together. We lose together. We are #ZSMMN! 🇩🇪 #DieMannschaft #GERSWE 2-1 https://ift.tt/2Kc4y2k

DIE MANSCHAFT survive but many questions remain
How can one describe Germany’s performance versus Sweden? Immature and naive? Maybe that’s the best way to describe Germany’s performance.Germany may have avoided World Cup elimination at the hands of Sweden in Sochi on Saturday – a last-gasp 2-1 victory via Toni Kroos’ stunning set-piece blowing Group F wide open – but the champions made life difficult for themselves.In the build up to the vital fixture, Joachim Low insisted Germany had learnt from their mistakes which saw them stunned by Mexico, triggering claims of squad disharmony.Low preached it would be different this time around. He almost guaranteed it.It was different when it came to the starting XI. Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira were dropped and the man everyone wanted – Marco Reus – came into the line-up.However, it was more of the same at Fisht Stadium.Germany came out all guns blazing, often playing in a 2-2-6 formation, and while they were fluid in the attacking third and unfortunate not to strike inside 10 minutes, they played straight into Sweden’s hands.Germany and Sweden knew how this would pan out. The Swedes would play on the counter-attack, while the Germans would control possession.Yet Germany were far too eager, leaving Jerome Boateng and Antonio Rudiger – the replacement for injured centre-back Mats Hummels – exposed, just like the 2014 champions were against Mexico.Germany’s incredibly vulnerable defence, not helped by the staggering number of players pushed forward, including Boateng, who went on forays forward to leave Rudiger alone at the back, were stunned by Sweden just past the hour-mark – Ola Toivonen making something out of nothing as the prospect of an early exit became real.We win together.
We draw together.
We lose together.
We are #ZSMMN! 🇩🇪#DieMannschaft #GERSWE 2-1 pic.twitter.com/ExXXZ13p38— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) June 23, 2018It could have been more by the break. An ignored penalty appeal, a wasted effort from Viktor Claesson and Manuel Neuer keeping Germany alive.Low’s men wiped out the deficit thanks to Reus within minutes of the restart, triggering a wave of attacks.Boateng’s overexuberance resulted in a second yellow card but Germany still poured men forward and got the goal they craved at the death – Kroos’ boot sparking pandemonium.Germany may have lived to fight another day, but more questions were raised over Low, his tactics and his side.Read more...

@FCBayernEN: Matchday!
Another final to play.

16:00 CEST | Kazan Arena.
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@FCBayernEN: #GER XI v #KOR :

Neuer - Kimmich, Süle, Hummels, Hector, Kroos, Khedira, Goretzka, Özil, Reus, Werner.

#ZSMMN #KORGERi

World Cup analysis: Germany’s lineup against South Korea
MediaHas Loew lost his mind????Well, the big crunch game is here, and Joachim Loew has once again proved that he is full of surprises. Here is the lineup that Germany will play against South Korea. Remember, if the Germans lose, then they’re out of the World Cup ...TEAM NEWS 5 changes for our final group game #DieMannschaft #ZSMMN #KORGER pic.twitter.com/Db4yzbVRLv— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) June 27, 2018Let’s tackle the big one first: Sami Khedira is back on the squad! Why this is the case, I cannot explain. Khedira was absolutely terrible against Mexico, and has been in awfule form for club and country for about a year now. Why Loew has chosen to use him now is anyone’s guess. On the positive side, He partners up with Leon Goretzka, whom everone has been clamoring for. The two line up next to each other in the dual pivot, with Toni Kroos ahead of them. This will be ... interesting, to say the least.Maybe the idea is to have two box-to-box mids to provide better cover for the defense and a better transition from defense to attack? It makes sense in theory, but Khedira’s form is worrying to say the least. He will have to put in a vintage performance to justify this inclusion.In attack, the German coach has benched Thomas Muller for Mesut Ozil, not something that anyone really expected, but not a shock either. Muller has failed to score or assist at all in this World Cup, and maybe that was enough for Loew to decide to cut him from the lineup. Otherwise, no real upheavals in attack.In defense, Niklas Sule comes in for the suspended Jerome Boateng, while Mats Hummels slots back into the lineup having recovered form his neck injury. This is a solid pairing, because Hummels and Sule have played together several times for Bayern Munich over the past few months, and they have a great chemistry with each other and with Joshua Kimmich. Jonas Hector on the other hand is an experienced player and will be just fine.That about wraps it up for the lineup. Follow our live coverage of the game on the gamethread!Read more...

@FCBayernEN: #GER XI v #KOR :

Neuer - Kimmich, Süle, Hummels, Hector, Kroos, Khedira, Goretzka, Özil, Reus, Werner.

#ZSMMN #KORGERi