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As it happenedended

Mexico vs Sweden LIVE World Cup 2018: Germany crash out - latest reaction from Ekaterinburg

Follow all the live coverage from the final round of games in Group F

Michael Jones
Wednesday 27 June 2018 12:19 EDT
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Mexico fans celebrate beating World Cup holders Germany

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Sweden will need to beat top of the group Mexico in order to guarantee their place in the round of 16. Mexico already have their place confirmed in the knockout stage of the tournament.

The Swedes are coming into this game after having suffered a defeat against a 10-man Germany side. They conceded a late goal from a Toni Kroos free-kick five minutes into injury time.

Mexico have seen a string of success in the competition so far. They upset the defending champions in the group opener and went on to win over bottom of the group South Korea.


Follow all the live action below…

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What time is it?

Mexico vs Sweden kicks off at 15:00 at the Ekaterinburg Arena.

Where can I watch it?

Live coverage is available on BBC Two and online via the BBC Sport website.

Odds

Mexico: 7/5

Sweden: 11/5

Draw: 11/5

Prediction

Mexico are expected to continue their successful run into this game and take home the victory. This game is predicted to be quite close with the edge going to Mexico.

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the climax of Group F.

It promises to be a wild afternoon of action with everything up for grabs for Germany, Mexico and Sweden.

Don't sleep on South Korea having a say either.

We will have all the latest from Ekaterinburg and Kazan right here so don't touch that dial.

Ben Burrows27 June 2018 11:04

Thanks to Toni Kroos' last-gasp wondergoal on Saturday evening there's plenty on the line this afternoon.

All four Group F teams can make it through to the knockout phase with the very real possibility that three of them could finish on six points.

Confused? Well here's Mark Critchley to walk you through what you have to look forward to.

Ben Burrows27 June 2018 12:04

With back-to-back victories to open the World Cup, including one over defending champions Germany, Mexico's national team has already been anointed by some back home as the best in the country's history. 

If Mexico beat Sweden today it would win its group with a perfect record, something it has never achieved in its long World Cup history. 

It's exactly the kind of big dreams that Javier Hernandez was criticized for prior to the tournament when he said winning this year's World Cup was a possibility. 

On Tuesday in advance of El Tri's final Group F match against Sweden, he doubled down. 

"The best thing to do with dreams is to share them with people who are dreamers," he said.

"We are brave enough not only to dream, but to work on those dreams so that we can make them true." 

Ben Burrows27 June 2018 13:40

The team news is in from Ekaterinburg.

It's very much as expected from both where Javier Hernandez leads the line for El Tri and Ola Toivonen, fresh from his goal against Germany, does the same for the Swedes.

Ben Burrows27 June 2018 13:47

Germany will be without Sebastian Rudy against South Korea as the holding midfielder is still not fit after breaking his nose in the dramatic victory over Sweden.

After losing their Group F opener to Mexico, the world champions revived their campaign with a last-gasp victory over Sweden and now need to beat the Koreans by at least two clear goals to guarantee progress to the last 16.

With centre back Jerome Boateng suspended after being sent off against the Swedes, Joachim Loew said he was down to 18 players for the match at the Kazan Arena.

"With Sebastian Rudy, it's two or three days too early for him," he said.

"He nose is broken in several places and he couldn't play even with a mask (but) Mats Hummels is able to play tomorrow, he's trained for the last two days."

Ben Burrows27 June 2018 13:52

Team news now from Kazan where Mesut Ozil returns for Germany.

Bayern Munich's Niklas Sule is in for the suspended Jerome Boateng while he's joined in the centre of defence by Mats Hummels.

Leon Goretzka is in alongside Sami Khedira with Ozil in for Thomas Muller. A surprise.

Five changes all in all for the Germans. Interesting.

Ben Burrows27 June 2018 13:56

With just under an hour to go until kick off for the concluding games of Group F, it's still quite possible that we could see three countries draw level on 6-points each.

Mexico already have 6-points but a loss to Sweden today would see the European side equal them.

A win for Germany over South Korea would mean they to move up to 6-points and that could lead to a three-way tie on points.

Goal difference could be the key to qualifying from this group so expect nothing to be left on the pitch today.

Michael Jones27 June 2018 14:07

Germany have had a tough time of it so far in this World Cup, losing their first game to Mexico and needing Toni Kroos to rescue them with a last minute goal against Sweden.

With goals required again today, who's going to be the match winner for the Germans?

Michael Jones27 June 2018 14:21

The teams have arrived in Ekaterinburg, a win for Mexico would send them through with three wins from three, the first time they will have done so in their history

Michael Jones27 June 2018 14:28

The German fans are ready in Kazan who knows what this game holds for them, and us?

Michael Jones27 June 2018 14:40

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