GERMANY 2 - 0 SWEDEN

GERMANY 2-0 SWEDEN
24 June 2006
by FIFAworldcup.com

Germany advanced to the FIFA World Cup™ quarter-finals after two early goals from Lukas Podolski secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Sweden on Saturday, 24 June 2006.
Jurgen Klinsmann's team did not look back once Podolski had fired them in front in the fourth minute and after the same player doubled their lead eight minutes later, only the excellence of Sweden goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson denied Germany further goals.

Sweden lost defender Teddy Lucic to a second yellow card after 35 minutes and their faint hopes of a comeback all but evaporated when Henrik Larsson blazed a penalty over the crossbar eight minutes into the second half.

Germany can now look forward to a quarter-final tie in Berlin next Friday against the winners of the Argentina-Mexico game.

The match
: 4': Germany were given the perfect start. Miroslav Klose turned cleverly between two defenders inside the box and although goalkeeper Isaksson blocked the initial effort, Podolski followed up to shoot home.

6': Fired up by the goal, Podolski sent a 25-yard strike inches over as the hosts went for an early kill.

8': In a frantic opening Sweden almost got back on level terms. Larsson turned his man on the edge of the area but could only find the side-netting with his shot.

12': The Swedes were made to pay for that miss. Klose ran across the edge of the box and played a subtle return pass right into the stride of Podolski, who steered his shot home, left-footed, for his second goal of the match.

18': Germany were looking dangerous with every attack. From another, Michael Ballack sent a 25-yard strike arrowing into the corner and Isaksson flung himself across goal to parry away.

31': The shots were raining down on Isaksson's goal and the keeper produced a magnificent save to tip a Klose poke around the post after the Werder Bremen striker had again produced a feint to trick his marker.

33': Torsten Frings, who had scored a wonderful goal in the opening match, had a 35-yarder tipped over. Seconds later, Isaksson was again throwing himself across goal as a cracking drive from Bastian Schweinsteiger whistled past his post.

35': Sweden's cause was weakened further when Lucic was received his second yellow card after grabbing hold of the elusive Klose.

40': Jens Lehman was finally given work to do, turning Ibrahimovic's shot around the post.

43': The Arsenal keeper was then happy to see Philipp Lahm clear the ball after he had collided with Mattias Jonson inside the box. The action soon switched back to the other end, however, where Isaksson was forced to turn Klose's 20-yard shot around the post.

Paying the penalty:
53' Sweden were presented with a glorious opportunity to reduce the arrears when Larsson was fouled in the box after good work down the left from Ibrahimovic. However, the veteran striker sent the penalty high over the bar.

55':Only a fantastic flying save from Isaksson prevented Germany from going three further ahead shortly afterwards. Ballack was again the player involved, buying himself a shooting position with a neat turn before sending a 25-yarder hurtling towards the corner.

72':Down a man, Sweden were trying everything to get back into the match - but without success. Ballack saw another shot from distance just clear the bar.

81': Desperate for a goal, the Chelsea-bound midfielder was left shaking his head again after the outstanding Isaksson saved a 20-yard piledriver with Klose heading the rebound over.

84': Still Germany kept coming. A fine three-man move ended with Bernd Schneider's shot being deflected onto the post. Next to test Isaksson's skills was substitute Oliver Neuville with a snapshot from inside the area minutes later.

In conclusion:
Helped by a lightning start, the hosts produced a magnificent display of attacking football to brush past a disappointing Sweden team. After conceding those early goals to Podolski, the Scandinavians' cause was not helped by a first-half sending off and Larsson's missed penalty and the two-goal margin could have been greater.