Group F of the 2018 FIFA World Cup takes place from 17 to 27 June 2018. The group consists of Germany, Mexico, Sweden, and South Korea. The top two teams will advance to the round of 16.
Video 2018 FIFA World Cup Group F
Teams
- Notes
Maps 2018 FIFA World Cup Group F
Standings
In the round of 16:
- The winners of Group F will advance to play the runners-up of Group E.
- The runners-up of Group F will advance to play the winners of Group E.
Matches
All times listed are local time.
Germany vs Mexico
The two teams had faced each other 11 times, including three FIFA World Cup games all of which were German victories: 6-0 in 1978, 2-1 in 1998, but a 1986 quarter-final game being the most significant, which ended with a German penalty victory.
Timo Werner fired a warning shot across the face of Guillermo Ochoa's goal during the first minutes of the match. Héctor Moreno headed straight at Manuel Neuer from their clearest opening. Javier Hernández's one-two with Andrés Guardado allowed him to spin away from Mats Hummels just inside the Germany half and feed Hirving Lozano down the left. Lozano then cut inside the resistance offered by the back-tracking Mesut Özil to crash a low right foot shot inside Neuer's right post. However, two minutes later, when Toni Kroos's free-kick arrowed towards the top corner. Ochoa denied the midfielder's shot, pushing the ball against the crossbar. Near the end Joshua Kimmich and Werner came close to score - but they survived.
This defeat represents the first time that Germany have lost the opening game in defence of their trophy. They beat Argentina 3-1 in 1958, drew 0-0 with Poland in 1978, and defeated Bolivia 1-0 in 1994. Germany have lost their opening match at a World Cup for only the second time, also doing so in 1982 against Algeria. This is the third consecutive World Cup in which the reigning champion has failed to win their opening match - Italy drew 1-1 with Paraguay in 2010, while Spain lost 5-1 against the Netherlands in 2014. Germany had 26 shots, the most by a side without scoring in a World Cup fixture since 2006 (Portugal v England, 29 shots in a 0-0 draw). Mexico beat Germany for only the second time -- their last win against them came in a friendly in June 1985. Rafael Márquez featured in his fifth World Cup finals, becoming just the third player to achieve this feat -- along with Mexico's Antonio Carbajal and Germany's Lothar Matthäus.
Sweden vs South Korea
The two teams had faced each other four times, most recently in 2005, a 2-2 draw in a friendly game.
Sweden's defence was tested by a South Korean attack in the early stages. Andreas Granqvist was denied a shot at goal by a last-ditch interception by Kim Young-gwon. Marcus Berg was close to score midway through the first half but his close range shot was beaten away by Cho Hyun-woo, while South Korea did not manage a single shot on target. Cho also saved from Ola Toivonen's header following a free-kick. In the start to the second half, both sides exchanged chances within the first six minutes. There was a short delay for Kim Min-woo's foul on Viktor Claesson to be analysed on video and for the referee to point to the spot but it did not affect Granqvist, who sent Cho the wrong way. Hwang Hee-chan spurned a glorious opportunity late on, heading wide from 10 yards out, as Sweden ultimately held on for a precious three points.
This was Sweden's first win in their opening match at a World Cup since beating Mexico 3-0 as hosts in 1958. South Korea lost their opening match at a World Cup for the first time since 1998 when they lost 3-1 against Mexico. Sweden's goal was the first they have scored in 402 minutes of international football.
South Korea vs Mexico
The two teams have met in 12 matches, including one game at the 1998 World Cup group stage, won by Mexico 3-1.
Germany vs Sweden
The two teams have met in 36 previous matches, including four FIFA World Cup games, the most significant being a 1958 FIFA World Cup semi-final won by Sweden 3-1.
South Korea vs Germany
The two teams have faced each other three times, including two FIFA World Cup games, one at the 2002 FIFA World Cup semi-finals, which ended with a 1-0 victory for Germany, and one at the 1994 FIFA World Cup group stage, a Germany 3-2 victory.
Mexico vs Sweden
The two teams have met in nine previous matches, including a 1958 FIFA World Cup group stage match won by Sweden 3-0.
References
External links
- 2018 FIFA World Cup Group F, FIFA.com
Source of article : Wikipedia
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