SOCHI, Russia, June 24, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Brought in to revive Germany’s
flagging World Cup campaign, live-wire forward Marco Reus did not disappoint,
scoring a crucial equaliser that pulled Joachim Loew’s holders back from the
brink of an unthinkable early exit.
The forward’s 48th-minute strike came before he teed up Toni Kroos for the
stoppage-time winner, as he vindicated Loew’s decision to hand him a starting
place.
Brought in for his first World Cup start ahead of the under-fire Mesut
Ozil, who had been heavily criticised by German media, Reus is lethal with
his right foot.
But it was with his left that he stabbed home a low Timo Werner cross that
took a touch off striker Mario Gomez.
“We showed team spirit after Sweden went 1-0 up, that was a setback and we
had to digest that, but we knew we could claw it back,” said the 29-year-old
Reus.
While a defeat would still have eliminated the holders, a draw would still
have left them on the verge of a sensational early exit.
That meant the stunning right-footed effort from Kroos that sealed a 2-1
win sparked delirious scenes among German fans and players.
“The fact Toni put it away like that is incredible — he has shown that
talent on previous occasions. I pay my respect to him for doing what he did,”
said Reus.
The Borussia Dortmund forward has been dogged with injuries that forced him
to miss out on the victorious 2014 World Cup campaign and Euro 2016.
Then last year he tore a cruciate ligament in the German Cup final.
Back at full strength in time for this World Cup he was one of the few
Germans to look dangerous in last Sunday’s shock 1-0 defeat to Mexico after
coming off the bench in the second half.
German media slated Loew and his team for that dismal defeat, and called
for wholesale changes in a rancourous build-up to Saturday’s game.
Reus said that he felt that “many Germans were looking forward to us being
knocked out”.
“There is still room to improve…but we are looking forward to next
match,” he said.